"Then I'm sure somebody wants it back." Irnk replies, his tone softening slightly.
Several minutes later, he continues. "I'm...
I know you meant well. You...
don't have much experience with fighting, especially fighting for your life, do you?"
Apex stops walking for a second, the look of shock on her face fleeting before she steels herself and answers.
A long time ago, I accidentally killed a man who tried to... take advantage of our impending arranged marriage. Ever since, I have been on the run, from bounty hunters sent by my parents to kill me so they won't lose thier social standing. I haven't been fighting, so much as just surviving.... I am not familiar with... battles like that. I... hate killing, I hate death. I just... want to be free.
"Lief always said 'Det första offret i varje konflikt är det stridsplan'." Irnk's cadence makes it plain he is reciting another's words. "Means how you think a fight's going to go, it pretty much never does. Least I think so."
"Never did learn Skald."
"I...
should have said more, before things started. About what I was trying for."
"You did fine."
"The first casualty of any conflict is the battle plan."
Apex's shoulders relax when Irnk is done talking. It's obvious she really did not want to talk about her past. She keeps her grip on the small goblin's hand and continues to follow Irnk, after softly saying
Thank you...
-Previously-
Sybil takes the box as well as the fireworks and puts them in her backpack. She then proceeds to follow Irnk and the other goblins toward Sandpoint. On their way, she sticks around Stumpy, making sure that he is still okay from his previous wound and learning about their destination.
-Present-
Seeing Irnk relax as he speaks to Apex, Sybil decides that it is time for more talk and makes her way to the head of the line.
Alright, be firm but not aggressive, he must not go on the defensive. she thinks to herself.
"Irnk, why are you walking toward Sandpoint? If you and your ten followers enter the town, you will be attacked. Even if I am able convince them that it is a mistake to attack you, there will be people coming after you. Showing them the head will not help you, they will only see one more bloodthirsty goblin. You truly need to think this through, what do you want for them? Peace? Survival? Strong bonds between them? Thriving? Do you really think you can find this here? The only place where people will leave you in peace is on the frontier of civilization... I... don't..." Sybil pauses, seemingly trying to add something, but it seem to be too hard for her and she settles for silence.
Listening intently to what Apex had to say, Avan was quite intrigued by her tale So even people of wealth and position sometimes seek freedom? His hand moved to his stubble instinctively, and his fingers ran through it at a slow pace, still he didn't understand what drove her parents to act this way? Yes, he understood that some people's greed was like a wild fire that ate everything in its path, but how could they even sell of their own daughter? And then send bounty hunters after her? They are no different from Kogza... A small frown fought its way to Avan's face, he could still see the glee ridden face of his former master. His hand fell by his side, as his previously slow walking speed improved dramatically till he was walking next to Apex, and then he quickly returned to a more relaxed pace so that his long strides wouldn't let him pass her.
Avan's left hand moved to the back of his head, and it began to rustle his hair, he turned his face slightly in Apex' direction "You did the right thing by fighting, surviving and seeking your freedom" A surprisingly stern tone annexed his voice "I know your capable of taking care of yourself...or the hunters would have caught you by now, still if you need help, just ask me and I'll fight them off with you" Continued the martial artist...it was strange to Avan how he didn't ask for anything in return, how he had simply offered his help to her Its illogical, it will get me in more trouble...but for some reason I don't feel regretful, maybe it will come later? But usually when I regret something its immediate He let the thought go for now as he placed both of his hands behind his head and continued walking at a relaxed pace. His long strides allowing him to keep the same pace Apex was walking at.
As Sybil closes with him, Irnk's ease obviously shifts to a more guarded tension. Obviously at several points during her words he is about to interject, however he refrains each time. Long moments pass as it becomes equally obvious he is contemplating her words.
Finally, still saying nothing, he stops, unslings his pack & begins rooting through it until he brings out a worn & much used book, from it's appearance, probably someone's journal. Opening it, almost reverently, he shows you a passage near the end of the written portion.
Irnk, it has been my experience that when Ullerstarl calls us to action, it is always with reason. Unfortunately, it has also been my experience that we are expected to understand what that reason is on our own, or at least come to that understanding by our own wits as we have them. When he called me down to you, it goes without saying, I was mightily surprised. In our time together however, I have seen all those qualities in you I would want in a son, a son with whom I have been honored to share Ullerstarl's guidance.
Ours is a god of the hearth, the smaller places, the wilder places. These places have dangers. There are those who do not value these places, save as prey, as fodder for their beasts, and they are beasts. Long it has been the task of people such as myself, and now you, to protect these places from those who would run rough as beasts over such places. I feel that in you, he has perhaps chosen something new. Perhaps, as more men turn from him to the Golden one, he has decided to see if your kind can & will take up the defense of the smaller, wilder, places.
If so, this is not a path you may follow only with blade or bow. This is a path you must also follow with words. Fear not, there will be deeds a plenty as well, but they will be deeds of patience, of thoughtfulness. Yes, I know you feel these are not qualities given to you to any great degree, but you must strive for them still.
The Rose would have it that such change may come without strife, without bloodshed. Unfortunately, we know that changes of so great a degree rarely, if ever happen without a measure of blood, sweat, and toil. Things will likely get worse, before they get better. Even in your short life, you have seen enough to know the cycle. The Goblin's numbers grow great, they become unafraid of the larger folk and they make of themselves enough bother that they are hunted down like the rats they ride. Their numbers reduced to almost nothing, they skulk back into the hidden places & lick their wounds & breed in secret once more, and the cycle continues anew. You must break that cycle & I fear it can only be broken at it's apex, it's height. When the Goblins rise up & become a menace, you must lead the charge. It is a terrible thing, to be set against your own. Yes I know, 'your own' were the Gullchuckers, and the Gullchuckers are no more. But your own are also the Goblins, as a race, and when the time comes, when you face against Goblins, beside Humans, it will shake you. When you feel this, know that this is natural, but do not be deterred.
In the North it would be slightly simpler. If you could capture or kill, but capture would be better, the tribe's chieftain, you could bring him before the jarl or better yet, the king, and offer him as wereguild, blood price. In your Southren lands... Probably not. But still, it may be the first step.
Sybil reads the passage, twice, and nods. Here attitude relaxes a bit in response to Irnk's willingness to discuss the subject.
"Thank you for letting me read this." she says impassive. She waves for Irnk to put away the book and walks with him.
"These men of the north certainly seem more akin to dwarves than the people of Varisia... Here, people see honor in quite a different way, they are less interested in tradition than in laws that they modify as they see fit. As such, the person who wrote this book was right, the people of Sandpoint will not honor a tradition such as a weregild. Even if they did, they do not consider goblins as people. Thus, Gutwad's head has no value to them." She sights. "Irnk, even if you go north, the head is not likely to be useful, for this tribe does not own a debt to those people that live far away... show the others what it is to respect life and death. She pauses to give time to Irnk to give some thoughts to her suggestions.
"If you want to settle these goblins somewhere and make sure they live in harmony with other races, you need to find a bargaining chip to give to a lord who will let you stay on his lands... something that they value or need. Yet, the price to let them stay in such a place would be higher than you can afford..." she takes one more pause, thinking of possible solutions.
As she does so, she slowly starts frowning and, after a moment, rolls her eyes. She sights.
"There is always another possibility. You can find an honest job for them, one that will not require them to stay in a single place. If they do well, people might slowly start to trust them and one day they might be allowed to settle somewhere. They could be bodyguards for a caravan or merchants, if you can manage to control their... antics."
At Sybil's words, Irnk grimaces. "You might be right. Something tells me that for all they try to hide it, the 'B~#$@ Queen' is strong in that place..."
"Who knows, they might not even know it themselves."
Apex turns her head slightly to look at Avan. Suddenly, her minds eye goes back to the river crossing, and how he made her feel like a little girl, a feeling she hasn't had since she was old enough to understand what her parents wanted her to be. She speaks softly, her eyes mostly hidden by the hood she has pulled up, hiding her hair.
No one has ever... offered to fight for me. You're a kind man, Mister Avan. You... I mean.... I like traveling with you. You make me.... feel safe.
She keeps pace with him, holding tightly onto the little goblin's hand, but not breaking the eye contact she made with the monk. After a few moments, she speaks again, her voice worried and almost... pleading.
I have to leave Sandpoint soon.... I don't want to, but I do.... If I stay, the hunters will catch up to me..... I don't want to have to fight them again... But I want to stay with you, and Irnk, and Sybil and Galford. You are.... My friends. I've never had... Friends before.
Brown irises' shifted toward's Apex, as Avan contemplated what she just said to him How do I make her feel safe? I don't have an army, resources or wealth But Avan knew better than to debate his companion on how she felt; its true he knew little of people, how they felt, or their reasoning's and motivations but he understood that debating someone on what they felt was hard and mostly lead to no resolution. Another thing he didn't understand was why she called him 'kind' he was doing this because he wanted to, because her situation more or less reminded him of his own and that he was impressed that she also fought back Maybe it appears selfless? Am I gaining anything by protecting her? No...so I guess it is selfless
Before Avan could give the matter thought, Apex used another word that was mostly alien to his life before now. He understood the meaning of the word 'friend', but he didn't comprehend what it was or meant to have one, he asked Ameiko and even Shalelu and they both more or less told him that a friend is someone he came to care about, trust and enjoy being around, but Avan never really gave the matter much thought, he never thought about how much he trusted anyone really, or how much he cared about anyone, and it appeared like he had to finally face such questions.
"It would be better to wait and plan out where you'll head next, then to just keep moving...I've almost been caught one too many times because I only kept moving and never thought about where I was going, try to anticipate where they'll look for you and go the other way, its no different than fighting, who ever reads his opponent better wins" Said the martial artist, feeling glad that the conversation shifted towards something he was actually experienced in, but after a while he felt a sour feeling come over him, but it didn't show on his impassive face, for some reason he found the idea of Apex leaving...annoying.
|
Walthus guide you on the Old Fish Trail, and old trail now unused, he swears is the fastest way out of the bog. He tells you he will accompany you to Sandpoint.
"I want to see how this ends." - he tells you while seeing the goblins.
As you start to move out of the swamp, you find the carcass of a wild boar (or something that once was a wild boar) dismembered and eaten.
Tracks seems to abound around it. Tracks like you haven't seen before.
The goblins cower together, trying to keep near Irnk.
You reach the Old Coast Road without issues, and start towards Sandpoint.
You have a couple hours more of light when you start approaching the town. Some people seem to be on the road, chatting, some 500' in front, and haven't seen you. For the looks of them are farmers or fishermen on their way back home, and taking a break.
Seeing the fishermen and farmers, Sybil stops and points them out to Irnk. She then waits for his directions, intent on putting Irnk's leadership and decision to the test, yet ready to jump to help if needed.
As Sybil points out the rapidly disappearing figure, Irnk's only response is "Huh."
He nods in acknowledgment of the commonfolk. "Now is likely the time for you lot to make yerselves apart." Looking to the rest of you, "I know Sandpoint had problems w' moun ki in the past. I also know it wasn't just moun ki..."
"You don't want to get yerselves 'tarred w' the same brush', you might want to just walk sideways."
Avan continues on their path, not paying much attention to the people that they walked past unless they were armed.
Apex peers nervously where Sybil points, and her grip tightens on the small goblin's hand.
I don't see anything... But there could be something following us... Right? I mean, what if something is coming after us to take back the things we took from the village? We.... should be careful.... she surmises in her small voice.
When the fishermen are in sight, she pulls her hood up, and wraps her work traveling cloak around her to hide her figure. The pants and shirt do a good job of making her look like a teenage human boy rather than a small woman. She stays silent when the crowd is approached, but doesn't let go of her staff, or the goblin.
Sybil looks at Irnk for a moment.
"I had hoped that my intentions were clear, yet it seems there are not. Let me explain them then: I will stay with you until our mission is over. That is, until we get to Sandpoint and announce that the goblins are no longer a danger. I have my own reasons for going there with you and your new ... subjects... and I will not hide or lie about it.she pauses for a moment. Will you jus walk pass then and let them see that a band of goblins is heading toward Sandpoint?"
Seeming to ignore Sybil's words for a moment. Irnk stops, considering the commonfolk ahead. Finally, he steps forward, holding Gutwad's gristly, severed head high. Once he has their attention, he continues.
A long and tired sigh escaped Avan's mouth, before he stepped forward and looked the crowd over, trying to find the least eager one to attack.
"I know this looks bad, and yes it was ill thought, not planned and completely lacking of sense or logic, so can one of you go talk to my boss Ameiko, tell her to come here...and tell her this wasn't my plan" Said Avan to the angry mob, before stepping back and Grabbing Galford and dragging him back as well "Apparently you look threatening to them...I don't know why"
While Gao and Avan are trying to calm the villagers down, Sybil leans towards Irnk and whispers to him:
"Make sure the escaped goblins do not cause trouble, if one of them finds some kind of courage and attacks, we will be in truly deep troubles."
As Avan drags back Gao, the dwarf walks toward the villagers, crossing path with the man and the tengu. Yet, as she does so, her attention is fully focused on the bloothirsty villagers. Once she reache the head of the group she lifts both hands, palms toward the villager both as a sign of peace and to suggest everyone to calm down.
"Please everyone, there is no need for bloodshed. Has mister Avan and Gao have mentionned, we know that this situation looks strange, yet there are people in town such as miss Kaijitsu, miss Mvasthi or even sheriff Hemlock who can vouch for us. she pauses for the villagers to process this information and goes on: I know it must sound strange, but the goblin you see here, Irnk by his name, she points toward him before continuing has helped us find the bombs that were used in the recent goblin attacks. Thus, ending the goblin threat! Without him, such a deed would have been impossible. Not only that, the other goblins you see here have sided with him against the chief who had first ordered the attacks. As such, they do not wish to cause harm to Sandpoint. Moreover, Irnk is about to lead them far away from Sandpoint where they will be unable to enter skirmishes with the people of Sandpoint or its surroundings. Please, stay your weapons. If you are in doubts, simply speak with the sheriff or to mayor Deverin."
She waits expectantly.
|
|
The villagers look at the Dwarf, and stop.
"Don't come nearer the town! Stop there! Fetch the sheriff!"
They make a wall to not let us advance towards Sandpoint.
"Don't try to run, the Sheriff will sort this out!"
The goblins that accompany you are shaking, and more than one seem ready to run for his life. To you they don't see frightening, more like wet and scared puppies than attack dogs.
A loud yawn almost escaped from Avan, but he had brought his hand over his mouth at the last second "Don't worry I haven't sat down for quite a while, so I am not going anywhere" With that the martial artist unceremoniously sat down in a cross legged fashion, a bored expression dominating his face "Can we get this sorted out before sundown? I've missed the Rusty Dragon more than I thought I did...oh and didn't I tell you to call my boss? I am sure I spoke clearly"
At first, somewhat confused & then irritated by the human's bellicose stupidity, Irnk is about to step forward irately, when Sybil manages to calm the situation, at least somewhat. Nodding in understanding at her words, he calls out to the other Goblins.
"Ou pa kouri
Ou pa kache
Janm sa yo," he spreads his arms to indicate the rest of you, "wotè yo se sou bò nou
Yo pa vle kite tou pre youn nan estipid la
Se konsa, kanpe avèk yo, gen nan pa gen krentif pou"
Don't you hide
These Longshanks are on our side
They will not let the stupid one's near
So stand with them, there's not to fear
Sybil stands firm, looking in each of the villagers eyes to make sure that none of them will try something stupid. She waits there until the sheriff or any other notables show up.
As the humans get riled up, apex tightens her grip on the goblin's hand and holds her staff out longways in front of the rest, so that it is a thin wooden barrier between the terrified creatures and the lynchmob that is forming. Her hood is still up, and head is down, the cloak and worn traveling clothes still doing a great job at making her look like a normal teenage human boy.
I won't let them hurt the goblins.... No one.... Deserves to be hunted if they are innocent. But am I even truly innocent? Either way, the goblins will not come to harm as long as I stand here. I'll make sure of that...
|
|
A couple of the more brave Goblins grab rocks and stand next to Irnk, and Avan, ready to defend themselves, even if shaking a little bit.
To their discomfort, another grabs himself from Galford's tail feathers, in the vain hope that if he flies away he will be able to grab on and escape too.
Another two pairs go and grab Apex and Sybil's hands, looking for some measure of protection with the women. Somehow the sensation of the small hands taking yours is not nice at all.
As some of the Goblins begin picking up rocks, Irnk quite quickly shows them, be means of his ferocious glower, that this is a bad idea. As the Sheriff proceed to put his own foot in his mouth, Irnk begins to reconsider.
"Then it's a good thing for you, I don't answer to you, isn't it?" He replies.
" proceeded with this...
adventure," Irnk's sneering distaste for the word is writ plain, matched by his features, it's something of a shock for some of you that you can now recognize Goblin facial expressions, "at the behest of Shalelu Andosana & her words were 'deal with' the threat presented by the Goblins."
"Given that the Goblin attacks resulted in no actual loss of life on your part, it seems to me that genocide might be a bit excessive a response. Or do you want another Swallowtail Festival?"
Not waiting for a reply, he continues. "If you like the idea of a never-ending cycle of hatred, violence, bloodshed, blasphemy & revenge, by all means, continue as you were." Lobbing Chief Gutwad's partially scorched head at the bigot's feet, Irnk rebuts. "If you want to reduce or remove your 'Goblin Problem', you're going to want to take a different tack."
Sighing once more, Avan placed his hand over his forehead This situation keeps growing worse He then turned to the goblins standing next to him and couldn't help but be impressed by the fact that they were willing to defend themselves instead of running away again Now I have to do something... He said to himself before turning his eyes across to the sheriff, while still sitting down.
"They won't be staying here" Avan points towards Irnk "He plans to lead them away from the area, and thought that coming here and telling you that they are leaving in peace was...well as I said before I doubt 'thought' was used in the crafting of this decision" The martial artist scratched the back of his head. Then he points he points to the severed head of the former goblin chief.
"But isn't it true you seemed to be more interested in killing Gutwald when you asked for help and...I wouldn't have went along on this quest, but boss insisted, and Shalelu...I can't just watch as she puts herself in danger for all of you over and over again" It was then that his eyes turned cold "Why won't you stop being so weak, so she doesn't have to keep defending you?"
|
Galford squaks as his tail feathers are grabbed, pushing the goblin away and one claw on his feathered behind, steps away.
"These goblins weren't really interested in attacking us. Their chief was. His head....ermmm well it's kinda at your feet. Irnk here is a ermm ummm a friend of Shalelu Andosana who had asked us to take care of the goblin problem and stop their attacks."
Galford stops while still rubbing his behind. Before speaking once more.
"These goblins will be leaving for somewhere else and hopefully find jobs. These ones are the peaceful ones just like even Sandpoint has bad 'uns. We too have good people like Mummy Koya. So there would be good goblins too."
Galford stops here as he realises he's getting looks. Thus making him uncomfortable.
At the Sheriff's reply, Irnk opens his mouth in response.
Only to be preempted by Avan & Galford.
Snapping it shut, he looks paper-cuts at the two of them before adding his own commentary. "Not threatening, no. Warning. Besides, you have bigger problems than Goblins. These with me are all that remains of the Licktoad & what wiped them out wasn't you Longshanks. It's also still out there."
As goblins grab her hands, Sybil shakes then off and glares at them. Once the sheriff arrives, she refocuses her attention on Irnk to see how he would deal with the situation. Surprisingly, she is impressed by the beginning of his speech, although she lets out a sight when Irnk mentions the Swallowtail festival.
She is slightly incredulous as Avan comes to the front to protect the goblins, and impressed by Dao's performance. Finally, she nods at Irnk's last comment.
"Irnk is right. There does seem to be something dangerous in the marsh and it is not goblins. Also... " Sybil approaches the sheriff ... Sheriff Hemlock, when you came to the rusty dragon, you sounded like a man uninterested in slaying countless goblins, now, these are not dangerous anymore, so there are even less reasons to kill them. she whispers to him.
She takes a few steps back and look into the man's eyes.
|
|
After Avan talks the Sheriff face hardens in Rage, and grabbing his weapons move at him.
"Who are you calling weak? I'll show you weak! "
Quickly Galford and Sybil defuse the situation, even if the sheriff keeps angry.
"If we let the goblins out, they will reproduce, if these are the only ones left, then this is our chance to get rid of them once and for all. They do not "work", you don't keep them as pets. They are dangerous, and my job is to keep Sandpoint safe. None of the goblins can go, including you "fancy" one."
He looks at Irnk while saying that, and signals his men to surround them.
"I'll fetch the Mayor so she figures this one out. Shalelu is not in town, but I'm sure if she were here she would kill them all herself. So if I were you I would be praying to the goblin gods to prepare a place in hell for all of them."
He starts to move towards Sandpoint.
"I didn't say this was all the , Longshanks. I said this was all the ." Allowing the Sheriff a moment to contemplate that, Irnk continues. "No-one, not even 'Lanmò ki rayi' herself, has managed to wipe out all the Goblins. All you will accomplish today is show moun ki that Gutwad was right & the only good janm wotè is a dead one."
Having said his piece to Sheriff Hemlock, Irnk turns to the other Goblins.
"Rete tann ak wè
Rete tann ak wè
Se pa pou l 'ka deside ki sò nou yo pral."
Goblins
Longshanks
Wait and see
Wait and see
Not for him to decide what our fate will be.
Irnk rolls his eyes, smirking at the Sheriff's obvious attempt to 'unperson' him. Turning to the other Goblins he shakes his head, advising that most appalling of Goblin experiences, patience.
The most likely outcome Avan's eyes shifted to Irnk before going back to the sheriff, but instead of saying anything he simply got up, turned around and walked off Why am I bothering with this? I am at Sandpoint, I could just go to the Dragon, tell boss what happened and rest... Avan's right hand went through his hair in a rough manner But then we'd be back to Shalelu risking her life for these people again, Irnks plan is flawed but his goal isn't undesirable The blond man began walking away from Sandpoint Her hunting grounds are wide and large, but solving this whole thing may depend on whether we could get her here or not Avan continued on his path, ignoring any voices and sounds behind him Why does everyone like to complicate things? He wondered for what must have been the hundredth time this week.
"Nou pral ri nepe nan yo pita. Nan tan sa a, nou montre yo nou pa moun ki yo di nou se." Irnk calls out, cautioning.
"I am curious have you ever seen someone escape by walking away?" Asked Avan in a surprisingly genuinely inquisitive tone of speech "I know not what the people you've chased in the past were thinking, but when I am trying to evade someone I run...I believe that is why the word run is also part of the word runaway" Explained the ex-gladiator, with not a speck of mockery tainting his words or facial expression.
"But if you won't let me leave then one of you should go out there and search for Shalelu, she is the goblin expert, so the mayor would likely want her opinion on the matter" Said Avan, as he stretched his arms backwards.
"Get off me!" half whispers and half hisses Sybil at the goblin trying to embrace her. Even though he might not understand Taldan, it is clear from Sybil's face that she does not really appreciate being the "mommy" of a goblin.
"Irnk, mister Avan, guards of Sandpoint, we are not here to flee nor are we here to cause trouble." as she says so, she glares at the guard who spoke to Avan. "As a sign of good faith, and to diffuse the situation, I shall sit here and I will not move until mayor Deverin arrives." she sits down. "Anyone who does not wishes to see blood be spilled is welcomed to join me in sitting down." she looks into everyone's eyes, including the goblins and the guards, almost unwavering and she silently invites them to join her.
After a few moments, she turns toward Irnk:
"Irnk, what will you do if the mayor gives the order to kill them?"
As she says this, she does not seem to overly care about the goblin's future, but more concerned about the events that will soon take place.