"I'd very much like to have a word with Master Kinsilvi, indeed."
Norton dismounts and follows the woman's lead.
"Funny situation, what is the best strategic solution? We all go in, and risk Green smashes the skull of what is probably an old scumbag, when he speaks his mind about kobolds? Or do I enter alone, leaving the other here to see how this big fella mistreats the kobolds and basically get the same result?"
Norton tries to think fast, while casually engaging in conversation with the woman.
"I hope we don't intrude and interrupt your businesses here."
The woman shrugs, "Not for me to say. Master Kinsilvi is preparing stew for lunch. He enjoys showing off his kitchen... please. "
"Hyassus take care of their mounts." She motions casually to a hitching fence adjacent to the farmhouse on the same side as which the kobolds are working. She then goes on inside... and raises her voice from within the house. "And wipe the blasted mud off your boots... "
There is a metal bootscraper on the side of the porch.
The Green Man is already fighting pretty hard, gripping the reins of his horse so hard he might tear the leather to pieces anytime soon.
The...the bastards...such CASUAL abuse. Ten hours of work after being up all night already?
What kind of greed justifies that?
As he dismounts, The Green Man sticks his hands in the pockets of his clothes, so nobody can see just how tightly clenched his fists are at the moment.
As they make their way up to the farmhouse, Ta keeps an eye on the farm, looking for any signs of strangeness that may be about, as well as how many they may be dealing with.
The ten kobolds working look a little worn, but show no signs of punitive abuse.
You notice locks on the half-dozen 5 square-foot hutches within view.
You see a couple more kobolds picking fruit from trees beyond the farmhouse. It looks like a kobold in leather armor is watching over them.
"Let me show you some magic."
Furiel gestures and a suit of magic chain mail covers him.
Furiel poses a question with what appears to be idle curiousity.
"How many hours of work a day do you get out of your workers here?"
"Neat trick, gnome... illusion?" He looks mildly impressed. "There was a gnome at the Lurleton Estate... remember him from I was a kid. He could make linnorms appear and disappear out of thin air. They were illusions."
He scratches his head leaning on the stair railing by the bootscraper. "Twelve hours countin mealtime... two shifts... Work through the night. Last night one of the breeders was givin birth... kept us all up so they look a little tired. Stew and stuffing'll perk em up." He looks over at Ta'de-win during his reply to Furiel... figuring the lady might give a fig for their well-being.
The Green Man makes sure to look behind him for a bit, so he can hide the snarl of bestial anger on his face long enough to wipe it off his face.
Calm down...calm down...if you could withstand the tyranny of the witches then you can stomach this for a while longer. A LITTLE while...
Furiel tries to broach a delicate subject with skill and misdirection.
"So, if a global proclamation outlawing slavery and owning humanoids as property was enforced, it would hurt the productivity of these farms. How can we come to an accommodation?"
Furiel winks, "As the new swordlords, we really want to make things work out for everyone. We don't need Brevoy meddling in our affairs any more than necessary, do we?"
Hyassus looks at Furiel like he may or may not understand, but regards it as something positive... "I suppose you're right... Best talk to Master Kinsilvi though. I need to get back to the field."
Norton follows the woman to the house, not sure the situation offers a winning strategy, probably is just a gamble anyway.
"Well, that's a topic master Godil never though of teaching me. I guess I just have to make a choice and hope Desna looks down on us."
When he reaches the door he carefully brushes his boots from the mud.
"Ta', what do you think: is better if you and the others keep an eye on the outside while I take care of the formalities? It shouldn't take long, we still have a lot of ground to cover before heading back"
"How did they take the news about the Stag lord demise, was it a good news, a bad one, an indifferent?
Ta examines the outside once again before answering Norton, leaning in close to do so. "I believe it would be best if we enter together. I believe your words of reason will work out in the end, but we may first need to prove our bark first. I just hope our bark is enough to prove our strength else we resort to the bite."
The front door leads to a foyer the same width as the hallway leading straight back. The woman is just returning from this direction when you come in, and motions back down the hallway.
"Kitchen's straight back.." She then takes the steps up.
On the left - parallel to the hallway, are stairs leading up. On either side of the hallway - just past the foyer, are two open doorways each opens up to a sitting room. The left is more feminine ornate "kitsch". Plush upholstered furniture, artisan-crafted coffee and end tables made from dark rich woods, large bushel baskets filled with skeins of yarn and wooden needlepoint frames.
To the right is a den. The curtains are little too small for the window, but are pulled tight. The den is filled with stuffed game, rare weaponry, and the lingering smell of pipe smoke.
Hyassus hangs around the front door until everyone makes their way back toward the kitchen.
It seemed mostly indifferent. Kind of like they are expecting more of the same... but not in a worn submissive way like the Quillor's initial fears.
"Well, feel free to come with, but I fear once we start barking there will be very little room for words left. And barking is usually of any good with old, stubborn men."
Norton finishes cleaning his boots "I'll do my best to keep it civil." and then steps in.
"That Andoletta mantle protects us."
"I am sure we can all be reasonable."
Furiel does gesture to get a nice ball of flame at this fingertips. To practice, he passes the ball of flame from hand to hand.
The hallway passes through a "family-size" dining room. The right side of the room ends in a large window with barely a hint of distortion from the glass.
The dining table looks out of place... far too decorative, and regal for the room.
The left side of the room is flush with the hallway, and covered in simple wainscoting painted white.
Beyond the dining area, there is a short continuation to the hallway. Beyond that, a few steps down to a stone chamber... like the inside of a keep, but what you see so far is furnished like a farmhouse.
You smell food... warm apples and onion.
You hear a voice within... older male, but does not sound elderly "That you? Or our visitors? Come on in... Pardon my manor. The apples and leeks are at a delicate moment... must continue to stir."
As you reach the steps down into the kitchen, you see a kobold scrubbing the stone floor near one of the two purple rugs in the room.
The man addressing you stands behind a "L" of butcher-block tables with a fire-pit with cooking racks, and large kettle built within.
There is another large window behind him, and there is a closed wooden door in the northwest corner of the room.
"I am Kinsilvi please come in. Janille mentioned you have put down Nugrah's boy... Planning on settling down, are you?"
He gives you about 15 percent of his attention while cooking.
Certain that Norton will begin the discussions, Ta instead chooses to listen to the surroundings, looking for any signs they may have entered the snakes den unaware.
"I am sure we can all be reasonable."
Furiel does gesture to get a nice ball of flame at this fingertips. To practice, he passes the ball of flame from hand to hand.
Norton watches the flames on Furiel's fingertips and his skilled juggling. "Yeeeah… exactly the picture I was imagining..."
Inside the house what strikes Norton the most is the dichotomy between the two sides of the house and the seemingly out of place furniture.
"I was expecting a bitter old farmer, I think I have to update that evaluation."
Stepping in the kitchen, Norton greets the man and introduces himself and the party.
"My respects master Kinsilvi, my name is Norton Ambrosi, with me are Lady Ta'de-win, the little one is Furiel, and the big one likes to be called Green."
"I apologize for our intrusion, and please, keep on cooking, the smell is wonderful and I would very much regret it if we were to cause the spoiling of your meal."
"Yes, we were sent from Restov to take care of the general issue of banditry, and the Stag Lord seemed to us the focal point of all the problem. We went to his fort to bring him to justice, he didn't take it… ehmm kindly..."
"That job done, we realized the land here is beautiful and can provide other possibilities, so yes, we are planning on settling down, and we are meeting the neighbors."
Norton looks around for a couple of seconds to let his long introduction sink in in the busy man brain, then he casually asks.
"You have quite a nice farm here, you must have put some real hard work in building it."
Kinsilvi looks up only as each is introduced... "Just Kinsilvi is fine. I think it confuses them when they hear other humans call me master." he cocks his head to indicate the floor-scrubbing kobold.
"Well... good show I suppose. Didn't have much trouble with him myself, but I had heard he could be unreasonable."
He moves over to the longer section of counter-space, and starts tearing dry bread into tiny chunks.
"Naturally it would have been unwise for the boy bandit to think me willing to submit,... because I don't."
"I... make deals."
You see the long chicken coop-style through the window behind him.
The same locks are on the doors as are on the 5square-foot hutches.
There is a thin line of exterior light peeking through the top of the door in the northwest corner... so it likely leads outside (this stone chamber is narrower than the farmhouse FWIW)
Its an antique dining table of a noble, but too small for a noble's dining table.
These were often given by nobles to families of longtime service upon becoming landowners, or marrying up in class.
Within the carved wood trim, there would usually be the crest of the noble family prominently displayed... and the receiver a smaller, and lower position within the stylized carvings.
Here you see the Lurleton crest prominently displayed, and the smaller crest matches what you see embroidered upon the purple rugs here.
"Deals you say? How's that doesn't surprise me?"
Norton listens to the man words wondering what kind of deal could have he struck with the late bandit. He then looks at the kobold.
Coming from Egorian, the working kobols outside, as well as the one inside, don't look all that much: everywhere in the world the land is worked with sweat, and servats wipe floors, a harsh nester is not necessarily a slaver. Norton concerns about the kobold welfare shift on a different angle.
"In Egorian slavery is a common practice, ruled by the law, but the system must be enforced. Just by sheer numbers they could overthrow the entire city if not kept disorganized and under the threat of a better equipped and trained minority."
"How is it that a single man could handle that system. If held against their will, how is the kobolds don't just run? All in all the lair we know of must be not two days walk from here. And how did they end up here in the first place? Captured? How? and by whom? Do these questions lead also to the answer to why the Stag Lord didn't bother Kinsilvi? There is some detail we don't see here... and why that table in the other room keeps bothering me?"
Overwhelmed with questions, Norton doesn't want to plunge directly into the matter, but he fears the more he keeps going around the restless the other are going to get, so he must show he hasn't forget the official reason of the visit.
"I know where you are coming from Kinsilvi" he nods in the floor-wiping kobold direction "In Egorian we make use of halflings, but they most often result to be useless, since they keep getting distracted by all shiny things. My father used to say he almost needed two supervisors for each halfling. How do you manage to keep them in line with just Hyassus out there? If I may ask."
"Kobolds bred in captivity are far more docile... I imagine fear of the outside world keeps them here... sheltered and fed. Those who earn my trust and have a that spark of ambition so rare in feral breeds, may hold positions of... middle management. In the end, they know the real world is far more dangerous than a hard day's work. Isn't that right Boolna?"
The kobold continues cleaning.
"Boolna?"
The kobold responds "Yes Master Kinsilvi."
The woman referred to as Janille returns, and hands Kinsilvi a leather portfolio... then leaves again.
Kinsilvi stirs the torn bread in with spices and melted butter while the apple and leek chunks simmer in bacon grease. He then turns his attention back to Norton.
"Will you be assuming the mantle of leadership with your new residence? If so, I suppose we should get to business. I am curious if you intend to honor the laws and charters of Brevoy..."
The Green Man still does not speak, but now his eyes are starting to narrow dangerously.
Arogant son of a donkeys offal...
Norton feels like a weight inside him was lifted. "Now I see your angle."
Know your enemy's goals, and you will know where the fight will come from.
"You know Kinsilvi, I made myself those very questions." States Norton as he were going to start a teaching lesson.
"Lets see if I have learnt anything during those long years of studies."
"We were sent here to do a job and we did it. While doing it we created a vacuum of power, that's undeniable, but should we rush to accommodate ourselves in that place? I confess I'm still evaluating the pros and cons here: the land is beautiful and the people are charming, but do they have to offer something more than a lovely sightseeing dwelling? Are here opportunities to be found? or should we move on?"
"You make deals? Well, then, let's see what you have to offer for the Lureton estate."
"Besides, non of us is Brevoy, personally I know little of the country's customs, and last time I checked this is not Brevoy, nor Restov. So, we decide to take charge here we could decide what rule and law is in the land's best interest."
"I bet you have been waiting for this a long time. Probably you already sold your soul for that cart-job, how much are you still willing to invest here?"
"To the victor the spoils... Myself I'd rather fight for riches than lawbooks and edicts." He shrugs and pulls two parchments from the leather portfolio.
"Just the same... should you decide to it is in your heart to rule, I hope you feel you can count on House Kinsilvi."
He hands the papers to Norton.
The first is a charter to House Lurleton from 35 years ago, and it covers most of this land within this hex.
The second paper is a notarized transfer of ownership to Valceour Kinsilvi.
"You find few allies in these lands. I can see only good coming from a relationship mutual respect between our houses. I believe this turn of events could easily elevate us both with a few strokes of the quill. It would not be with a light heart that I would sign off on these lands, but I feel I might weather that regret better in a certain little house on the hill... with a generous stipend for returning it to its glory, of course."
Furiel follows the conversation with some wistful glances at the simmering stew.
"The relationship between master and servant is a somewhat symbiotic one. Given current larger political realities in these lands, some changes will definitely have to be made. As a new sword lord I can only hope we can keep you positioned to thrive in this new environment."
You notice a partial muddy footprint on the rug nearest the cleaning kobold. It is un-booted feral bipedal footprint.
"Yes... I'm certain we can work something out. After the tyrant you have deposed, whatever minor differences we might have to hammer out is certain to be insignificant. And thrive?"
He nods silently...
"The inheritors of the future are those who outlast their rivals. Its been burned into my brain for all my life. It would be a welcome change to do more than just outlast them."
Kinsilvi then looks over to the kobold. "I think you are finished Boolna... Tell Hyassus not to bother with the hog, we have enough here."
After a moment Boolna nods, tosses her brush into her bucket, and opens the northwest door to leave.
The reinforced wooden door opens to the back yard. A couple steps lead down to muddy patch of land between the farmhouse and coop-like structure.
Boolna hesitates at the doorway, and risks a glance at the group before continuing... her face is difficult to read.
The Green Man knows he shouldn't interrupt, but he can't contain himself.
"Ser Ambrois, can I have a private word with you? It is urgent..."
Norton was only playing a role, and indeed, a role The Green Man himself had ASKED him to assume, but despite that, he wasn't fully able to keep a hint of anger out of his voice.
The Green Man then makes sure they are alone, seeing as a place like this might have people listening in the walls.
The Green Mans eyes suddenly pop open as he realizes something.
If so, do we give it to a man others may fear?"
Norton takes the papers and reads them. He is not an expert, so it is hard for him to say if they are legit, but something tells him Kinsilvi is not a petty forger. The documents are more likely to have been obtained through conspiracy than to be a counterfeit
"If you would excuse us a moment Kinsilvi" Norton walk away with Green.
"Well" he replies to the friends worries "The documents seem legit, if Lord Lureton sold or gave him the land before leaving, there is nothing the heirs can claim: is not in their legacy."
Norton looks at Green.
"I know you don't like the man, and I don't find him pleasant neither, and, as we are founding a new kingdom from scratch, we can claim the papers void, but I see two problems with that: it sends the wrong message about the kind of rule we want to establish, and Kinsilvi will surely be not happy. Somethings tells me this is not ordinary farmer, somebody you don't want to ponder vengeance against you in the night."
"There is always the option of just… whacking him. But again, that sends the wrong message."
"Yeah, probably the other farmers fear to be treated like the kobolds or worse."
"Telling him we are not sure we will claim the land might have bought some time, and he also thinks I'm the one who is in charge. We can work this ignorance of his in our advantage. We can stall the matter while we send word to Stetven amd see if we can contact some Luretons, if the two clash we will just be the referee. If Kinsilvi is legit we would keep him content and in sight."
"In Egorian they say -keep your friends close and your enemies closer-"
Norton works a little with the words since the cheliaxian way of saying would more honestly translate in "Do your friends favors and your enemies in"
The Green Man listens intently to Norton talk, like an eager student at his teacher’s feet.
As he finishes up, The Green Man rubs his chin thoughtfully for a moment, placing the various pieces down where they belong, like a mental jigsaw puzzle.
"so you are saying that he has enough authority to technically impose his claim, but not the strength perhaps to back it up, but if he gets us to lend him our rightful authority he can claim his prize?"
"In addition, he knows he probably can't resist us if we push by force, so he tries to come to terms with us through bargaining?
Does that mean we are the ones bargaining from a position of strength and could possibly lower the price for our help?
Hmmm..."
"Well, then my only concerns is, will the other people think poorly of us for striking a deal with him?
Either way, the Lurleton estate must be fairly big yes? So who will run it for him?
Will he be willing to give up his slaves? Even if he might not call them so..."
The Green Man then places a big hand on Nortons shoulders.
"You are wrong about something however, in this, you REALLY are in charge, none of can match your knowledge in this.
But...I will need to learn from you, it is a skill I think I'll need.
Even if I one day sits on a throne, I can't be expected to know everything, so as someone said to me once: "The best leaders know when to lead and when to follow"."
There is nothing obviously suspect about the papers, and the seal is embossed with a signature from a notary public, D Nettles.
Kinsilvi seems to be trying to mask desperation, and/or anxiousness to seal a deal...
Boolna's look seemed to be of tired disappointment, but you couldn't determine much more than that.
"He thinks we are in a position of strength, but till we are ignorant of all the facts, we can only fake strength. Let's hope that's enough.
The other farmers won't think bad of us because we let him claim the land, but will most probably suffer for that. Let's go back and see if a vague promise is enough for now."
Norton moves his arm showing Green the way back to the Kitchen.
"I won't let people suffer if I can stop it, but it sounds like you have a plan, and that is good enough for me.
I'll be ready if it comes to that..."
The Green Man is more relaxed than he was before, but his eyes glitter dangerously.
Norton walks back into the kitchen, trying to give the best impression he had ever given.
"Well Kinsilvi, my friends are eager to hit the road again, and is time for us to leave you to your well deserved meal."
He reaches out with a hand to shake the other man's.
"It was a pleasure to see this land is not only beautiful, but inhabited by proper men."
When he shakes hands with Kinsilvi he gives him a conspiratorial look.
"Chances are we will really take your advice and try to sit on the highest seat, when that happens, as it is, I don't see why we shouldn't honor previous arrangements."
"Excellent. Feel free to take your time... decisions made too quickly are signs of either deceit or foolishness." He walks you to the front door, and bids farewell.
"Best of luck to you."
Your horses are lashed to the hitching fence as you left them, and the slight sprinkle of rain has resumed.
As they leave the house, Ta whispers to Norton, "This talk of breeders has me concerned. Also I noticed a strange footprint, what I believe Boolna was cleaning. Perhaps you could convince Kinsilvi's man to allow me to check up on their help? Possibly under guise of having the master's permission?"
Bestial humanoid.. human-sized, maybe larger.
Norton replies to Ta
"I can try but you must be quick. We scored a point inside, I don't want to to blew it."
Norton approaches Hyassus.
"Hey big fella. I told your boss what set of workers he has. Do you really breed them here? I never thought that possible. What's the secret?"
Seeing his chance when everyone appears occupied or distracted, The Green Man attempts to slip away for just a moment, trying to find Boolna.
If successful he will his at her.
"We have not much time, speak freely if you have something to say, but do it quickly before someone overhears."
Norton finds Hyassus west of the farmhouse. Boolna is walking away from him when you exit the house, and is heading north of the farmhouse. She slows as Green approaches.
Hyassus nods as Norton approaches. He seems to accept the compliment.. though his face does not appear to show any emotions whatsoever...
"Mmm not easy. Master Kinsilvi handles the training.. I'm just here to remind em. Might be a little harder to go back to the old ways unless he worked out a deal with you too. Still have an owlbear or two to feed dontcha? That threat hanging over their heads worked real well."
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Boolna responds to Green quietly with her eyes averted.
"I am Boolna of Seven Bloods Clan. I have little to say, but I saw the rage toward Master in your face. Our clan carries out a great curse, Master is punishment in flesh of a man. I only ask..." She looks over at Hyassus. "deal for our young... break their blood clean of their fathers' mistakes..." She keeps her head own and starts to back away.
"I can see that, owlbears scare the @#§* out of me, if you know what I mean. Have you ever seen one?"
"Seen one? Who d'ya think trapped em. Me and the rest the Brown Shaggies..."
Hyassus goes quiet after this, and looks over the field where the kobolds are working.
Norton hopes him distracting Hyassus gives the others the window of opportunity to do their sneaky stuff.
"By the way, what do you grow here?"
Hyassus relaxes with the obviously innocent question.... "Fruit, nuts, soy, and potatoes get most of the acreage. A few other things in small amounts."
I got to find Ser Ambrosi, without his calming influence I might just go berserk...
The Green Man then stomps off to stand near Norton, clenching and unclenching his hands.
"Ser Ambrosi..."
The Green Man hopes the tone of his voice will convey what he doesn't want to speak outloud at the moment.
Furiel is touched by Boolna's story and speaks to her quietly in her native tongue:
Furiel speaks with conviction to the others:
"We can discuss things back at our castle. Acting rashly here is not in anyone's best interest."
He looks pointedly at Green.
Boolna looks at Furiel skeptically but nods. She then walks off along the side of the farmhouse toward the coop and orchards.
Hyassus sees Green and Furiel approach "Excuse me.." He walks the same direction as Boolna... passing within ten feet of Green. He keeps his eyes down as he does.
The Green Man wanders off, seemingly just looking at the orchards, admiring them.
In reality; he is trying to look thoughtful, while listening for any telltale sounds of Boolna being abused.
So help me...