The day after the recruitment, you receive a message and a small coin purse from a young guard, with a large adam's apple and bulging eyes; Who tells you the Patrol Captains have decided to hire you to participate in the Hopeknife ceremony's tug-o-war, before hurrying away.
Almost all of Trunau’s seven hundred odd citizens have gathered in the Commons, the large amphitheater in the centre of town. The merriment is already under way with several long wooden tables heavily loaded with food and drink - being genially guarded by four off duty guardsmen - one whom is large of girth, familiar to Brin, and already has blueberry jam smeared across his lower lip.
Jubilation fills the evening air in contrast to Trunau's normally staid atmosphere, for it is the twelfth birthday of the Chief Defender’s youngest daughter, Ruby, and the townsfolk have been preparing all day for the ceremony and festivities to follow. The throng of cheerfully noisome spectators quiets as the weathered town leader, Halgra of the Blackened Blades, takes the stage and begins to speak.
“Thank you all for joining us this night. I take immense pride in my responsibility as Chief Defender, especially when it comes to the honor of the hopeknife ceremony. It is always a great privilege to bequeath Trunauan youths their hopeknives as they come of age.” Halgra stops speaking long enough to open an ornamental case and retrieve a slender, ornately decorated dagger hanging from a silver chain.
“But tonight is a special occasion, for the recipient of this hopeknife is none other than my youngest daughter.” Once again, Halgra pauses, but this time she turns to talk to the child beside her.
“Ruby, by the traditions of our town, you have come of age. This hopeknife represents your responsibilities as an adult and defender of Trunau. You must be willing to use it on yourself, your fellow Trunauans, and your family — even me, should it come to that. It will be a far quicker death than that which the orcs will offer, and providing it is your duty. Do you swear to guard Trunau from all comers, and to use your hopeknife only for its intended purpose?” Ruby — dusky skinned, black haired, and painfully shy — nods her head in response to her mother’s question.
“If the orcs come, and there is no other option, this is where you cut — here, here, and here.” Halgra demonstrates which arteries to sever while Ruby watches. When she is finished, Halgra sheathes the hopeknife and places the necklace around Ruby’s neck before turning back to address the crowd.
“Tonight, Ruby becomes a full member of our community! Let us welcome her, and celebrate her passage into adulthood! Trunau forever!” The crowd echoes Halgra’s last words in unison, signalling the end of the ceremony. Once Halgra finishes her speech, the townsfolk waste no time transitioning to the ceremony’s more light hearted festivities
Rodrik and Kurst Grath, accompanied by four guards drag a thick rope up onto the stage and Rodrik steps forward pointing an accusing finger at Ruby and bellowing melodramatically, "Not so fast! If you want to prove yourself to be a worthy citizen of Trunau you will need to prove yourself to us the dashingly handsome townsguard in a tug-o-war!"
Up on the stage the guardsmen are mugging for all they are worth making muscleman poses and blowing kisses, with the exception of Kurst who is covering his face with a hand and shaking his head. The crowd boo and hiss them in a good natured fashion, and it is clearly a familiar and much loved tradition.
Rodrik bellows, "You may choose five people to help in your inevitable defeat!" Despite his theatrics, and dark tone Rodrik clearly cannot keep the grin from his face, and the nervous Ruby smiles back at him before turning to search the crowd,
"Errr, I call upon, um, Cromwin? And, um, Zove? Also, ah, Murry? Maurie? And Brin of the, was it Heart? And Grook?" She stammers, seeking out each of you in turn with large moist eyes and a quavering finger.
"You heard the Lady get on up here!" Rodrik calls, laughter in his voice.
Maurie takes the coin purse from the young man solemnly.
"Thank you for delivering this, please let the brothers Grath know that I will be there."
The halfling woman finishes her morning exercises and then proceeds to the gathering. "I wonder who else was selected for this task. There certainly were a lot of interesting people interviewed yesterday."
Maurie navigates the crowds with remarkable grace for someone her size, never seeming to be in danger of being stepped on despite the number of people there. "So that is the purpose of the knife. Strange that they call it a hopeknife... perhaps it is because they hope to never have to use it. Still, this ritual and pledge is a core of their society. It seems that Kurst was not entirely correct in his thoughts that there are no codified laws to Trunau." The halfling smiles to herself. "Abadar abides even here."
Ruby mispronouncing her name at first brings Maurie out of her self reflection and back to the realities of the day. Moving quickly up to the stage, she smiles to Ruby. "It is Maurie, dear. Maurie Wyssal. Do not worry, the guards will quite literally not see what caused them to lose." She says this with a wink, hoping to inspire some confidence in the poor girl.
Ruby flushes and whispers, "Oh, I am sorry Maurie? I... This is just..." She trails off giving Maurie a tremulous smile and gesturing helplessly at the exuberant crowd.
Maurie follows the girl's gesture and nods. "Do not worry about them. They are here to cheer for you, and want you to do your best. Take that positive energy and use it to your advantage. Give it your all and they will be proud of you no matter the outcome. That said," the halfling woman smiles and speaks loud enough for the rest of the people on stage at least to hear, "we have neither the intention nor the will to lose to these gentlemen. The Judge of the Gods has measured both sides in this case and found theirs... lacking. All that remains is for you, dear woman, to pass the sentence upon them." She gives the guards a conspiratorial wink and Ruby a wide smile.
"This is going to be fun."
Late in the day after leaving the longhouse, Lurry approaches Cromwin while he is loading Anvil down with goods purchased from the merchants near the barterstone. Cromwin breaks out into huge grin as he realizes the implications. Cromwin hurridly assures Lurry that he would accept, then turns to rapidly finish packing his saddlebags as Lurry rides away. "Yes! Anvil, they chose us! Well, me I guess. Sorry old friend, but the Commons will be too crowded for horses, and I think you would have a bit of an unfair advantage in a tug of war.". Anvil stomps his four feet in turn and whinnies softly at that. Cromwin laughs softly. "Yes, yes, four legs. You're quite good at the pulling. Let's see if you can get all this home so we can tell da and the family about our fortune." As Cromwin swings into his saddle, his thoughts race towards tomorrow. "They chose me! Surely this is a good sign if I want to join the guards. And I'll get a chance to help out Ruby! I wonder who else will be there? There were so many good choices."
************
As Ruby calls his name, Cromwin pushes forward from where he was standing in the crowd with his family and makes his way towards the raised stage at the end of the ampitheater. His younger brother Jacob, a tall but still spindly lad no more than ten years old yells out after him. "Get 'em Crom! Show them what arms that can lead a stubborn horse can do in a tug o' war!"
Cromwin grins as Ruby finishes calling names, and as he sees Zove and Maurie make their way up onto the platform. "Zove! I didn't think they would pick her. I'm glad they did though, she should be included more. If people made more of an effort to bring her into the community, she wouldn't be fighting all the time even with that strange mark on her head." As Cromwin ascends the stage, he turns and waves to the crowd before turning to Ruby and her team, a huge grin on his face. "Hail Ruby, ready to show these guards what a young woman can do? Zove, and Maurie was it? Glad to see you both again. These guards won't know what hit them!"
When the young man hands him the purse and tells him that he's been asked to participate, Grok smiles a big smile, his eyes closing for a moment. He takes the purse and looks at it for a moment, his mouth open as though he's about to ask a question I don't need this. Don't refuse a gift. He takes it, looks at the young man, and says They will have me then? Tell them I will be there, and will be here after, here in Trunau.
Grok then heads to his house on the edge of town, just a small shack really, and gives the coin to his roommate, a tall, brown haired woman named Ariel who he had found in the wilder parts of Belkzen. They will have me he says to her, maybe I can make a difference.
=========
He arrives early at the Commons, he has nothing better to do and would be uncomfortable elbowing his way through a crowd. He keeps his hands in his pockets and waits for the ceremony to start.
He walks up to the stage, noticing how uncomfortable the little girl is. He looks uncomfortable himself, almost hurt, but walks up to her, what do I say? Hey there Ruby...don't be worried. He glances around at the others, but they barely register, all he notices is that Maurie knew something to say to the girl to try to calm her. He looks back at Ruby and smiles, nodding slightly, before looking at the others. Why does that girl have a mark on her face? That young man knows her, they'll be allright.
Grok looks up at the guards, his mouth a smile, Time to pass some sentences...time to pass some sentences? He thumps his massive chest with his left hand, then reaches for the rope, nodding at Cromwin and Brin. They're burly enough. You ready to pull hard?
Brin dawns his bard's cloak and heads out to the front of the Ramblehouse to take in the morning air. As Clomes approaches with the coin purse Brin gives him a big smile.
"Clomes, so good to see you. I take it by the jingle in that bag I've been asked to help a fair maiden win her tug-o-war contest!
Brin takes the purse and ties it to his hip underneath his cloak. Brin reaches out to shake the young guard's hand.
"I hear you're quite the shot. It's good knowing we have men like you guarding us at night. Let me buy you an ale or porridge the next time we meet."
Brin walks through the small town until he comes to the Commons.
What a sight. Performing here would be just as good as any stage I'm seen in my travels.
Brin eyes a portly man guarding the food tables. He puts two fingers to his lips and whistles loudly at the man. Once Gellam sees him Brim gives a big wave.
"Remember, everyone else is expected to eat too!" Brin gives a big laugh and nearly stumbles into the ditch as he moves towards the gathering crowd. Brin slowly moves up to the front as the Chief Defender Halgra begins the ceremony.
The ceremony nearly done, Rodrick, Kurst, and the guardsman bring the rope center stage. Ruby calls out for her champions and Brin responds.
"Brin will work just fine, no need for formalities when you're as tough as the guards are handsome!" With that, Brin heads up to take his place.
Maurie smiles at Grok's addition, though it is clear that the half-orc is almost as out of place on the stage as Ruby feels she is. Giving one last comforting smile to the girl turned woman, Maurie assumes position on the rope.
"A pleasure to have you all with me. Worst case scenario I will run along the rope and tickle the guards, causing them to let go." After basking in the confused faces of her fellow Ruby supporters, the halfling laughs. "I am kidding. Although I probably could do it if I needed to. No no, this must be settled fairly, so no rope antics from me today."
"No, but Myra Hinkel fell over and split her dress," Ruby replies, in the voice of someone who has clearly spent a great deal of time dwelling upon this horrendous possibility.
The guards make a great show of preparing themselves to take up the rope, Rodrik beaming as he hefts the rope.
The crowd take great pleasure in booing the guards and urging team Ruby on to victory. It is pretty clear that alcohol has already been in circulation.
Well Ruby I wouldn't worry about that, my friend here he nods at Maurie is pretty agile, I hear she can walk on ropes. Now Maurie my agile friend can catch you as quick as you can fall over, and as small as she is nobody will even notice, so don't you worry about that. And us big guys in the back, well, we'll keep the rope nice and steady, you couldn't lose even if you wanted to. So just don't you worry about a thing, we're all here to help you out and make sure nothing bad happens to you. Grok looks intently at her, I think those were some good words. How can you be sure? He glances up at Maurie, checking to see if she's still smiling.
Why can't you walk on the rope? he wonders, only half realizing that he's speaking.
"Myra Hinkel" Cromwin says as he hefts the rope. "Doesn't have your natural grace and poise. You're going to do great." He looks over his shoulder at Grok and nods as he speaks. "Grok's right, he and I will anchor everything nice and steady."
Ruby smiles tentatively at Grok, and blows a raspberry at Cromwin's words, seemingly more at the idea that she has grace and poise than at him.
Both teams heft their side of the rope, separated by some 30 feet with a chalk line drawn at the center point. With the crowd cheering and jeering, they ready themselves for the tug-o-war. "Ready, set, pull!" Halgra shouts, and both sides begin to strain.
The guards seize the initiative making a steady effort to drag the rope towards them with Rodrik calling time, "One, two, three puuuuullll!"
its side. For every 5 points by which the winning team exceeds the opposing team’s check, the winning team pulls the rope an additional 5 feet. The opposed checks continue each round, with a new initiative check each round, until the first member of a team is pulled across the center line, at which point that member’s team loses the match.
Brin takes his place behind Ruby and sets in for the pull. He leans forward to speak to the young girl.
"No more worries my dear, we will prevail and keep your dress from splitting, all without breaking a sweat.
Brin then leans back in and shouts over his shoulder so that the crowd can hear as well.
"All together now! For Trunau!"
"Heave!"
Cromwin feels Brins words soak into him, kindling something deep inside, bringing out a previously unknown strength. Determination and a wild, fierce desire to see Ruby succeed flow through him at the words. Caught offguard by the strong, sudden pull from the guards, Cromwin stumbles a half step forward before catching himself, slamming his feet into the floor at an angle to arrest their forward motion. "For Trunau! HEAVE!"
Brin's efforts to spur on his team mates mean he cannot devote his full attention to the rope and the guards manage to drag the rope towards them, the chalk line now only ten feet from Ruby's feet. However you all feel the invigorating swell of rage within you, and if you choose to allow yourself to accept it feel yourself empowered by it, and swept up in primal fury!
The rope slips in Brin's hand as he calls out to his team. He quickly shuts up for a moment and grabs the rope, digging his feet into the ground.
Brin calms Ruby having heard her gasp in surprise as she lurched forward.
"Just keeping this interesting my girl! "
** spoiler omitted **
Maurie clings onto the rope for dear life as they go forward a few feet.
"Well that is lovely, let us try again." Feeling sudden strength from the song of Brin, Maurie plants her tiny feet and calls to her teammates.
"Pull it back! Pull on three! One two THREE!"
Ruby shoots Brin a pained smile over her shoulder, eyes a touch panicked.
The guards are caught by surprise by a sudden surge of effort from a Team Ruby inspired by Brin's rousing words, and several curse loudly as their gains are arrested and then reversed! The crowd bellows its appreciation with cries of, "Come on Ruby! Put your back into it Cromwin! Porridge ration for the losers!"
The power of rage enables Team Ruby to out muscle the guards again, inspire of Zove's sage advice. Strain as they might to recover the momentum is clearly against the guards and with one last rather feeble effort they succumb Rodrink's boots smearing the chalk as they are dragged over the line, Kurst and another guard falling sprawling on their posteriors.
The crowd goes wild and Ruby beams at her helpers, "Oh, that was great, thanks so much! I know they normally just play at this, but I am sure we won for real! You were all great especially you Brin..."
Off to the side Rodrik shakes his fist at the crowd, doing his best pantomime villain impression, "Next time we'll crush who ever tries to earn their hopeknife next! Bwhahahaha! You'll see, you'll all see!" The crowd boo and hiss enthusiastically. Kurst sighs heavily lying back on the stage and rolling his eyes.
Brin leaps up and cheers, grasping hands with the rest of the team. He turns to Ruby and gives her a hug.
"Congratulations girl, you've crossed a great threshold in life today!"
Brin sees the young girl beaming a bit too much after his embrace. He blushes.
"But, ha, not too many too fast Ruby."
Maurie smiles warmly at Ruby. "Well done, Ruby of Trunau. I told you everything would be fine."
The halfling nods thanks to her teammates then walks over to Kurst to offer him a hand standing.
"Well fought. Abadar's blessing be upon you for such a valiant effort."
"Indeed! Congratulations Ruby, and great work everyone!" Cromwin turns to offer Kurst a hand up, but seeing Maurie beating him to it turns back and waves to the cheering crowd.
Brin...he did something, something wonderful. What WAS that? I've never felt my heart stir like that, not even fighting for my life.
Ruby, obviously somewhat overwhelmed turns away from Bring flushing and catching Zove's words manages a sickly smile, "Yeah, ah, but I kind of want to throw up now..."
Rodrik approaches the group laughing, "Well didn't need to put on a show there! You buggers have no consideration for your elders! Come now let us all get royally sloshed!"
Grok lets the rope fall as soon as his opponents are pulled across the line, shaking his hands from the effort of pulling. I wanted to win a whole lot, that song was...strange. I felt so strong, I wonder if he knew he would do that.
Grok accepts Rodrik's invitation, taking a big drink of ale. Thank you he says, smiling at the server, before looking for some food. He grabs a bone heavy with meat and looks for Brin. When Grok finds him, he approaches and stands next to him for a while, waiting for Brim to notice him before speaking. What did you do earlier, to make my blood run hot? Can you do that at will? Could you make me do something I don't want to do now? Would you?
"Grok was it?" Brin turns to face the half-orc, giving him a once over and giving a beaming smile. He gets a bit closer, sipping his ale and speaking in a low tone.
"My ancestors fought against cold, giants, trolls, witches, and everything scared enough to work for those monsters. They took the magic of song and forged it into something else entirely. Their call to battle was one of strength and conviction, and that magic now flows through some of us younger Ulfens who wish to bring honor to themselves and tell great story of heroes of the past."
Brin smiles, then starts laughing. "Haha! Or something epic like that!"
He puts his hand on Grok's shoulder. "Fear not the Ode half-orc. It instills vigor in my allies, but only if they wish it."
Maurie nods to Kurst after helping him to his feet, then wanders away from the others. "One of the drawbacks to being an outsider on a festival is that you really have no one to talk to. Well, unless you are a traveling merchant I suppose." Maurie sighs a bit and gets a bowl of porridge, thanking the larger guard for it. She wanders to a quieter portion of the crowd and digs into the meal, feeling like she has earned it.
Mhmh, they call me Grok. He listens intently when Brin leans in to tell the tale of the ancestors, and when Brin laughs he loos slightly surprised. What was funny? No matter, you'd not understand anyway.
That sounds good to me, but what if I'm the sort of person who doesn't know how to resist the call of battle and the feeling of strength in their arms? I feel like I might just lose all sense of myself and do something stupid, though I guess I do enough stupid things anyway. Still, I might forget the reason with your vigor in me. Grok looks slightly unsure of his use of the word vigor, and then his eyes glaze over for a second, I didn't remember the reason why I wanted to kill them...just that they needed to die.
He looks up a Brin, remembering where he is. After a brief pause he asks what makes a thing epic?
Brin stares blankly towards the crowd. "Well, I've never thought about what exactly makes something an Epic. I guess you know, when you know? Imagine, a lone warrior standing alone against a rising tide of darkness. He assembles a group of comrades to help stem the tide and against all odds, they bring light back into the world.
Brin pauses to sip his ale. He smiles up at the sky. "Now, that's my kind of Epic."
Grok looks at Brin for a moment, not really sure what to say. What's wrong with the darkness? He is clearly quite confused, the metaphor having gone over his head.
Grok is still quite confused, his mouth open and moving slightly. The eternal struggle...of creation? What creations? What...what's the abyss?
So...the struggle for everything to survive? To live? Is that what it means for something to be epic? Grok looks rapidly from Zove to Brin, looking for an answer.
I had a drink earlier, don't like getting drunk. I suppose I'll have another drink with you, if you want, but not much more than that. I just don't want to get stupid and forget where I am. Grok explains, before adding is that strange?
"Well I, uh, can get into this with you later. It's time for drink and food!"
Brin extends a hand to Zove. "My lady, it is nice to finally make your acquaintance."
Okay, time for drink and food then, Grok says quickly, looking around for another server. People normally talk while eating...why don't they want to talk about this now? Grok gets himself a plate with more meat and some vegetables, looking to see if Brin and Zove want to sit.
"Brin, Brin of the Hearth, Brin that lazy work dodger. I answer to them all."
He chuckles and gets lost in thought, "Boy, would I have made an awful squire..."
Grok notices Zove choking and looks concerned, almost ready to jump to her aid, then calms himself. [i]She's allright, looks just fine.[/b] He moves his plate to his right hand carefully, holding it with his thumb and his palm so that most of his hand is hidden, and begins to eat with his left hand. He looks at Zove, asking have you ever been anywhere else?
At Brin's self depreciating humor, Grok chuckles slightly, and for a very brief moment moment his shoulders relax. He looks smaller than before, and less guarded, his eyes unfocused, but unlike before; Grok is not remembering anything. For just a second he's almost comfortable. Then he looks around again, and smiles a smile which does not reach his eyes. There is a subtle shift in the way that he's standing, perhaps his stance grows slightly wider, and more stable, and his eyes snap back to Brin, then over to Zove, then back to Brin.
You can sing though, that magic's worth more than hard work, makes a person ready to die, and less likely to.
Maurie finishes her meal in peace, then leaves the festivities. "Might as well ensure that the guards watching the walls are doing alright. I can't relieve them, but I can ask if they need anything to eat or drink."
Grok flinches slightly at being touched, and looks at Zove's arm awkwardly for a moment. Brin looks comfortable enough, it's alright. Well I, uh, just one drink, he mumbles.
"That's the spirit! We'll have you singing like a bard by the end of the night."