After toves abrupt departure, and Terri following shortly after, kalaman gets up and goes to the bar for another drink patting garethane and ivo on the backs on his way, after he sits down, he turns to bassius and asks, "how about yourself, Sir vibulus? How do you see your new kingdom coming together?"
As Terri listens, her expression softens. She had never expected to hear someone say that freedom is painful, but hearing Tove's story, she could see how the priestess could.
"Freedom can be scary," Terri says as she sits next to Tove and looks off at some memory only she can see. "but to deny it is to stifle yourself and others. I'm not saying that traditions and community and faith aren't important, they are, but there has to be some You can't look out at the wide world and turn your back on it just because the possibilities it offers you can be filled with pain, or painful memories."
Terri sighs, she is just feeling normal and now another thing has turned her world topsy-turvy. She wanted to tell her friend it would be alright, but there was something frightening that she had seen, and she has to confront it.
"Tove, you have told me a lot about your self and it may have explained a little about what I'm going to ask you about, but it didn't answer the question. Why did you snap at Ivo as you did? Why did you storm out when he pointed out, rightly, what your actions, our actions, will come to mean? Was it just the implications, what you have told me, or is there something more? I saw a side of you I didn't know tonight, and I did not like it, Tove, but I want to understand it. Fear of the unknown is what keeps people inside at night instead of out under the stars. I want to know about this part of you that frightens me so that I know what it is."
"You can leave if you wish, but you cannot run from yourself. That is something that I have had to learn these past days."
After letting Tove withdraw, Garathane asks Ivo with a wry deadpan, "Would it be safe to assume that your mother didn't believe in mixing honey in with the medicine?"
Ivo replies to Garethane, "Imagine for a moment that I'm not a three-and-a-half-foot-tall gnome who's on her side, but rather an angry protester. Someone who lives in the nascent settlement, who doesn't agree with everything that the leadership is doing, who pays taxes, has a family and a job, and wants their voice heard. Imagine that there's a town meeting and this imaginary person gets in Tove's face and is shouting at her that he doesn't agree with her policies and his neighbors don't either, and what is she gonna do, kick them out? Smite them?"
"That day will come and that event will happen. I'm the smallest bump in the road that Tove needs to worry about. Better that she start learning to deal with it now, among friends."
Tove softens as Terri sits down on the bed beside her, offering small nods to punctuate each point the bard makes. She winces as she brings up her temper with Ivo though and withdraws slightly, fidgeting with her hands in her lap.
"I... 'stormed out' because I knew that he was right, and I didn't want to admit it... Look, I know that establishing a community here means welcoming a rich tapestry of folks into our fold. But it is that... 'fear of the unknown' you mentioned, for me... Most everyone I've ever met before this year has been Erastilian, most of them conservative Ulfen men. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you, but... It's just hard for me to understand it when someone else's views are so different to those Erastil teaches, those core beliefs that have been drilled into me for my entire life. It's going to take time, I think, to learn how to make compromises on those things."
Tove sighs and shakes her head. What? It was true... or, it wasn't untrue. But no, Terri had followed her outside, she'd sat with her on the bed... she was here for her, she deserved the whole story.
Tove turns to look Terri in her mismatched eyes, for a moment her breath catches in her throat.
"I'm sorry. That's not it, you're right. I mean, it's more complicated than all that. Terri... For me to admit that Ivo is right, that Garethane is right, it means that I need to admit that the church can be wrong. But... but if Old Deadeye can be wrong about the evil of cities... then it follows that He could be wrong about other things too. It follows that He could be wrong about m-"
No. Too much. Tove clasps her hands together under her chin and shuts her eyes to the material plane, praying for Erastil's forgiveness.
'You cannot run from yourself,' Terri's words echo in her mind.
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Garethane says gently, "The difference being that our very committed cleric may expect opposition and conflict from an angry protester. I'm guessing she was not expecting such a strident chastisement from an unexpected quarter. Not saying you're wrong, but I think you managed to completely blindside her with an un-examined truth or two. It will likely take some time to process. While harsh, I think you did right by her. It is a friend's job to tell others the truth even when, especially when, it's unpleasant, but no-one likes feeling ambushed."
The elf's tone brightens "As for me, I'd like to hear more of your thoughts on enshrining justice over some of Oleg's delicious ale. My throat is getting dry from all my pontification."
"Tove, the church is not the god, and the gods are not infallible. Desna released one of her greatest enemies, Ghalunder, the god of parasites and rot, by accident while wandering the stars. Your fate is not set in stone. Even if you were not intended to receive what power Erastil has invested in you, you can still do as he wishes and be the kind of person he would be proud to call a follower and a priestess."
She sighs and goes right for what she knows will likely hurt Tove, but she has to bring it up. Now was the time for a little tough love.
"But I think it's more likely you've let that helm go to your head. Sure, there are responsibilities that come with it, but I think the prestige and the notoriety that you'd get for claiming it is what's really on your mind. Then when Bass makes a toast for Abadar to bless this fledgling nation of ours that has somehow plopped right into our laps, you decide to make it a pissing match, and you got mad when Ivo called you on it. Honestly, I joined to help others and make a mark wherever I could. I don't need the fame, I don't want a whole kingdom, and I'm worried about what's going to happen if we don't start this by including everyone that will be affected. And because of those things, I can see how this could rip us apart before we even start."
Terri looks Tove in the eyes, her blue and gray ones lambent in the gloom, piercing and haunting.
"I think you should go back and apologize to both Bass and Ivo, and I think you should consider what kind of kingdom you want this to be. Ideals are great and all, but I learned the hard way that sometimes you have to be willing to bend in order to preserve those ideals. I would think long and hard about if you really wish to do this, Tove. Sometimes you're given an ugly set of choices with no right answer. You can ask the baron of the town I grew up in about that."
Tove breaths in and out slowly as Terri makes her points. All valid, but none quite touching at the underlying turmoil rising to the surface of her mind. Good. Best it remains buried.
Tove turns to meet Terri's eyes once more and nods her head as she finishes her speech.
"Maybe I have let things get to my head a bit recently... I do believe that Erastil has given me this power for a reason though. I want to use it for good..."
"Maybe it is time I learned to bend a little," Tove says with hint of a smile.
She slowly rises to her feet and turns to Terri.
"I'm going back. Will you join me?"
Tove reaches out for Terri's hand. Her heart aches and her head still rings with things unsaid, but she needs to apologize. If she focuses on that maybe the rest of it will silence itself.
Tove swallows hard and takes a deep breath before pushing open the door to the Leveton's house. She walks into the dining area with Terri in tow, staring down into the center of the table and avoiding the stares of her companions.
She swallows again.
"I wanted to apologize to you all," she sighs.
"I've been so caught up in the idea of protecting this place that I lost sight of who I was protecting it for. I know that not everyone shares my faith, and I know that I should be able to look past that."
Squeezing Terri's hand Tove takes a breath and continues.
"Erastil teaches us to harness the wild, but also to preserve the balance of nature; to strive to embrace a simpler way of life so that we do not overstep our bounds. I want to see these lands made safer for new communities to flourish, but not at the cost of their inherent beauty."
She sighs.
"However, I understand that not everyone here shares the same convictions as I do, and if we are to rule this land together we will all need to make compromises. Compromise requires open communication, and less... storming out of the room when someone disagrees with you."
Tove lets her eyes flick up toward Ivo and across to Bassius.
"I'm sorry I couldn't admit that sooner."
She smiles sheepishly.
"How about another round?" She adds, her mouth suddenly impossibly dry.
"You don't owe me an apology, Tove," says Ivo as he hops down from his chair to fetch her a drink. "You owe one only to yourself."
"You're a good priestess and you have a strong moral barometer. That's why it makes you angry to see people push back against what you consider to be self-evident moral principles. The trick is that people will use that against you. They'll manipulate you, knowing that they can make you act rashly, or look foolish, and that this will turn public opinion against you."
The odd little gnome hands the mug to her and says, "The good news is, you're clever. You have a strong moral compass and a strong mind. You have good intuition. So you'll grasp what I'm saying and I suspect that you will almost instantly adapt. Now you know - your feelings are valid, but you can influence your own reactions. If someone tries to anger you and it fails, you gain the upper hand. If you refuse to rise to the bait when someone rejects your smaller concessions, you can save your social capital for larger issues."
Ivo fetches himself a mug as well (albeit somewhat smaller). "Did you know that two hundred years ago, women couldn't even be priests of Erastil?* But it was conviction to justice, to fair treatment and representation, that changed that."
"You'll pick up the politics quickly. And you'll be a formidable opponent."
"Same side?" he says, offering to tap his mug against Tove's.
~~~~~~~~~~
* I'm basing this statement on early PF material that presented Erastil's clergy as being strongly misogynistic (woman's place is in the home, everyone is supposed to get married and have kids, etc.). PF writers later realized that this didn't really fit with a lawful good faith in a world of magic and adventure and changed it.
"Much more recently in some Ulfen communities... and it's still not a common thing to find a priestess of Erastil who is yet to be wedded."
Tove takes a knee so that she can join Ivo at his level before tapping her mug against his.
"Same side," she grinned. "And no more letting tradition stand in the way of good friendships."
Tove hoped politics would prove as easy for her as Ivo suggested it might. Worrying about public opinion had never been high on her agenda before.
Bass, who has seemed to be deep in thought, finally looks up to Tove at her return. "Apology accepted."
He then turns to Kalaman. "I do have some thoughts on our kingdom. I agree with Ivo. It was my rashness in dealing with a Chelish diplomat that led to my exile to the River Kingdoms."
Continuing, Bass adds, "And while I think that the River Freedoms are sometimes too free, I have come to love the people of the north for their industry and initiative. If there is one thing that I would want for our kingdom, it is leadership that the people can depend on. Abadar's laws are stepping stones for men and women to make good lives for themselves, and I want that to be the cornerstone of my rule. Or our rule, rather," the paladin adds hastily, "Since we've not decided on how to take charge of the Stolen Lands just yet."
"Of course. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't stand by you when you're trying to do the right thing."
"One thing at a time. I think we should see what all is in the domain that we've been granted and see who would be willing to work with us. Unless we want more trouble like I heard you had with some loggers and some fey, I think we'll need to find out what they are willing to accept and what we can do to bring them to our side."
After a bit of tension between Tove and Bassius, mostly on Tove's end, the night's celebration continues on in honor of the party's newly granted nobility. There was still the matter of figuring out the how they would govern, and who would be responsible for what aspect of their fledgling kingdom, but those concerns could wait for another day.
Old Duncan says that he would be happy to deliver the information about the intended location of the settlement next time he's in Restov, likely three or four days from now - plenty of time for you to get back to Stag Lord's former fort.
In the morning, although not particularly early after the night's festivities you head out from Oleg's on your "victory lap" tour of the Greenbelt. The first day, you make your way back to the faerie nest and tell Tyg and Perlivash of your good news. The pair are quite excited to hear your news, but provide a bit of an ominous warning of there being "those who do not appreciate new settlements in the Greenbelt".
After spending the night with Tyg and Perlivash, you leave the next morning at a much more reasonable hour of morning and arrive at Lanyssa's cottage just about time for lunch, as per normal Filtarn and Naavi “greet” you upon your arrival. Lanyssa is mostly happy to hear of your news, but does express some concerns about grand plans and potential expansion into the Narlmarches. Following your brief and mostly pleasant visit with Lanyssa, you set off for the Temple of Elk, arriving early in the evening. Jhod was just beginning to prepare his dinner when arrived, and as fortune would have it had just gone hunting earlier in the day – bringing down a young deer. Happy to have guests, he offers dinner to you all, saying that he’ll simply have to go out hunting again tomorrow. Jhod is interested in what your plans are, particularly in terms of what your settlement will be like. "Do you hope for it to be a city like Restov? Are you hoping for more of a rural settlement? Somewhere in between?" Conversation and questions go on throughout the night before retiring for the night.
The next morning arrives and you set off for gold vein you had found and along with gold vein, the Deep Gnomes and their enemy the Derro. Climbing down into the crevasse, you make your way toward the Deep Gnome camp. The size of the camp is roughly the same size as it was the last time you were here. As you approach a deep gnome that you do not recognize sees you and rushes off into the camp. Moments later Thulwar and Firble come out to meet you. ”Greetings! Long time, no see!” Thulwar says. Looking the group over he comments, ”Well, at least it’s good to see some of you again…and the rest of you for the first time. I’m Thulwar, and this is my cousin, Firble” he says gesturing toward the other deep gnome.
"well met sir Gnome, I am Kalaman Mar, recent addition to this here party, and of these lands."Kalaman says when the gnome introduces himself to the new comers to the party
Tove does her best to reassure Jhod that she will try and keep the settlement on the rural side of things, but expresses the need to compromise on some aspects in order to keep their new kingdom as rich in diversity as the charter holders themselves.
She does make the suggestion that one day the Temple of the Elk might make a nice centerpiece for a more traditional settlement, or perhaps even a monastery dedicated to the Stag God.
She also enjoys the opportunity to share some of her Erastilian heritage and explain how the worship of Erastil evolved from the Green Faith as she finally gets the chance to show off the temple and its cave art to Terri.
--
In the Deep Gnome camp, Tove greets her old acquaintances warmly before stepping aside to allow the new members of the group to introduce themselves.
Terri listens to the warnings and begins to feel that there is something brewing under the surface. For now, though, she's content to leave things be. Her cares and worries are almost entirely forgotten when she sees the temple for the first time. She goes every inch with giddy delight and admiration. Instead of the traditional mark left by Desnans, she works late into the night to carve her mark into an oak medallion that she leaves with Jhod. "I hope and pray that all who journey here are watched by Desna as Erastial watches over the communities they come from," she says as she presents the priest with the mark. "I thought it better than marring the temple walls," she explains at his confusion.
Of course, the temple wasn't nearly as exciting as the deep gnomes. Terri is brimming with delight at meeting them and is quick to introduce herself.
"Terri RIverrun, at your service. I'm a bard and collector of tales and I'd love to hear some of ones you know if you have the time."
"Nice to meet you." Thulwar says to the newcomers.
"Come on back to the camp with us and tell us all about what's been going on up on the surface. So far so good here, no more signs of the Derro."
"Glad to hear it," Tove says. "We bring our own happy news from the surface too. The bandit king who once troubled the lands above is no more, his men have been driven out, and we have been granted the authority to rule over the region in his stead."
"Oh, that is good news." Thulwar says. "Now that you'll be heading your own kingdom, I'd wager that we can set up some sort of trade agreement."
"Out of curiosity, which one of you will be king or queen of this new kingdom?"
Terri follows along beside Tove and listens to Thulwar's question, and finds herself surprised that she hadn't even thought about who she would want ruling their fledgling nation. She is too honest with herself to know that she would make a terrible ruler. Beyond that she does not know. She doesn't know enough about the others to gauge who would be a good ruler in her mind.
"Not it," says Ivo quickly.
"While the stability of kingdoms with long-lived Elven rulers is unmatched... I'd rather be hunting in the woods." Garathane delivers his declaration with a grin.
Tove shakes her head. "That's... we haven't actually had that conversation yet, officially. But I suspect the role should fall either to myself or to Sir Bassius here."
Tove looks over to meet Bassius' eyes.
"Now, I could take the position of Queen for myself, and I would appoint my brother, Jhod Kavken as my High Priest. But as I have been heartily informed, we are not looking to form a new theocracy. Since dividing the rulership thusly would tip the scales firmly in that direction, I think I may better serve our people by donning the mantle of High Priestess myself, and leaving the position of Monarch to my Abadaran friend."
"Hmmm...allowing a relative newcomer to take the crown. Interesting. If my memory serves, Jacobus was your resident Abadarian the last time we met." Thulwar comments.
Turning his attention to Bassius, he asks, "So, if you are to be the ruler of this fledgling kingdom, what are your intentions, Sir Bassius?"
Bassius thinks for a moment before responding.
"Foremost, to be a protector. All creatures work for their own benefit, and my duty as a paladin of Abadar is to protect those who work to benefit the whole as well as themselves from those who would prey on others. I see no reason to change that as lord or king. I would encourage trade, protect the kingdom's integrity, and act as an arbiter in case of disputes."
As Bass speaks, his face is lit up by a growing smile. He pauses at the end of his recitation, then the near-grin fades as he quickly adds,
"Practically speaking though, I would want to encourage settlement at Fort Redemption, the Stag Lord's old fort. Allies are better than enemies, however, and those already living in the Greenbelt who work with us would receive guarantees of their land in the kingdom's charter."
"Seems fair enough." Thulwar says. "Perhaps we can work out some sort of trade agreement between our peoples."
"You say that all already living in the Greenbelt would receive guarantees of their lands. What of those who live below it?"
In an even tone, Bassius responds,
"Those below it, like yourselves, would be treated the same. Mineral wealth is very important to any kingdom. Once we're more established, we'll send a messenger with more specific terms for you to agree to."
"That seems like a reasonable plan." Thulwar says with a grin.
Following the deep gnome leader trying to feel out the newly minted nobles, you are invited to stay for the evening. Thulwar and his people offer you bread and a thick mushroom and root vegetable stew for dinner, while re-telling the tale of the deep gnomes's long standing feud with the Derro, including the issues leading up to the confrontation with Adjxeer Zanmiirn.
All in all it is a pleasant evening and you stay for the night, waking in the morning to head for the Sootscale caverns, passing by the Old Sycamore where the mites previously dwelled along the way.
It is early evening when you arrive at the caverns. Chirkri and Nakra who had previous accompanied you to the Old Sycamore stand guard at the cave entrance. The pair immediately take a guarded stance seeing the approach of a group of "long legs" but relax when they recognize at least of few of you. Chirkri says "Wel-come." in broken Taldane and flashes you a toothy grin - you would guess that passes for a warm welcome from a kobold.
"And well met," Terri beams, still feeling upbeat from the enjoyable evening and the new sights and tales she's heard. "I am Terri Riverrun. May I have the honor of knowing your names," she asks.
"Chirkri." the first kobold responds. The other simply says, "Nakra."
Ivo is uncharacteristically chatty with his distant cousins, enjoying the mushroom-vegetable stew and talking at length about the deep gnomes' current projects, their aspirations for the future, and his own thoughts on the current human projects on the surface. He has two servings of the soup and promises that as the surface settlements develop, they will bring trade, which will give the deep gnomes a chance to expand their palates with fruits and grains from the surface world.
~~~~~~~~~~
In contrast, among the kobolds, Ivo is hesitant and wary. One hand always stays near the handle of his pepperbox pistol, and he has a constant slight frown. He lets the big people handle this diplomacy - if he opens his mouth, it'll be trouble.
"A pleasure to meet both of you. Can we talk to your chief? We have some news and we need to discuss some things with him."
Chirkri nods. "Thisss way." the kobold hisses, struggling with the common tongue of man as he leads you down into the cramped caverns - cramped for everyone save Ivo, of course.
Arriving in Chief Sootscale's "throne-chamber", the kobold leader greets you. "Welcome back, my friends."
And welcome to your new companions." he adds casting a wary eye on the newcomers to the party.
Bracing himself against a wall, Bass bows as much as his already-hunched posture will let him.
"Thank you for your welcome, great chieftain. I am Bassius of House Vibulus, a paladin of Abadar and defender of peace and prosperity in these lands."
Chief Sootscale nods.
"What brings you back to my caves, friends?"
Tove bows to the kobold leader and takes her queue from Bassius' words the night before.
"Thank you for having us here, Chief Sootscale. My companions and I have come here this evening to share with you the news of our successes on the surface, and to discuss our relationship with your clan moving forward."
"You see, my friends and I have been granted authority to rule over the these lands by the human king who's charter we hold, and so we are preparing to form a community to the south-west, based around the old fort that sits on the northern shore of the Tuskwater."
"To that end, what we are really here to do is obtain your blessing, in the hopes that our two peoples can co-habitate this land peacefully."
"As long as you still recognize that these caverns belong to the Sootscales, I see no problem with that." Chief Sootscale says. "Will there be trade?"
Tove takes in a gulp of air after realising she'd been waiting on baited breath.
"Your tribal boundaries will be well respected, I assure you. And yes, there will most assuredly be an increase in trade goods flowing through these hills. You and your tribe are more than welcome to participate in the exchange."
"Good." the kobold chieftain says with a toothy expression that, in theory, could pass for a smile, seemingly satisfied with Tove's answer.
"You are welcome to stay as honored guests for the night if you like, but I will not be offended should you decline, as I know these caverns are not made for those as tall as you."
Bass is good to go here. We've accomplished our mission, and cricks in the neck are worst in the morning. His vote is for a polite and grateful declining of the offer, and moving on.
Garathane is content to let the more diplomatic among the party handle these negotiations since he has neither the Charisma or the Draconic language to aid in them. That being said, we would politely vote for a night in the woods as opposed to underground unless the weather is looking to be foul.
Terri looks about to ask if she could stay just a little while and hear some of the stories the Sootscales have, but sees the way the winds are blowing and promises to come back when, if, she has more time.
As the tallest member of the group, Tove votes to leave it there, and politely conveys the decision to chieftain.
Following the brief conversation with Chief Sootscale, the party politely declines the Chieftain's invitation for the evening and returns to the surface to set camp for the evening.
An uneventful evening and night give way to a humid, warm morning. After a quick morning meal, the party saddles up and begins the day's travel. Just before it would be time to stop for an evening meal, you find yourselves at the gates of the Stag Lord's former fort. If Old Duncan was true to his word on the timing for returning to Restov to relay the information you provided about the starting locale for your new nation, supplies and workers should be arriving in the next day or two.