The aslan get up and head into a much larger hall where an impromptu feast has been put together. There are forty or fifty people present and you are the only humans. You sit at a table with Hteleitoril and several Aslan who seem to be old friends and supporters. Nowhere do you see the animosity that the Prince seemed to be concerned about. If anything it seems to be the same mix of joy at the return of their old friend and leader and some unspoken sadness that lies between them.
There are many formal speeches in Trokh, with the occasional line of Anglic thrown in for your benefit. The food and ale is plentiful and over time the Aslan get louder and more rowdy.
Jerry follows along, nodding when he hopes it is the right time. And toasting, that is universal at diplomatic events. Not really understanding what is be discussed is familiar from his years attending trade talks.
Unfortunately, the Ulokoifiael is more powerful than he expected and he dozes off just after the main course. Hopefully Ray is close by to ensure that he doesn't hurt himself when he slumps forward.
Byron joins in for the feast.
Jerry follows along, nodding when he hopes it is the right time. And toasting, that is universal at diplomatic events. Not really understanding what is be discussed is familiar from his years attending trade talks.
[dice=SOC(+2) + Diplomat(1)]2d6+2+1
Unfortunately, the Ulokoifiael is more powerful than he expected and he dozes off just after the main course. Hopefully Ray is close by to ensure that he doesn't hurt himself when he slumps forward.
Steph steps up to Jerry on the way to the feast. "They said he should resume what he laid aside, and not to return home in rags."
Steph will quickly translate the speeches as best she can for the her group as the dinner proceeds.
Jerry follows along, nodding when he hopes it is the right time. And toasting, that is universal at diplomatic events. Not really understanding what is be discussed is familiar from his years attending trade talks.
[dice=SOC(+2) + Diplomat(1)]2d6+2+1
Unfortunately, the Ulokoifiael is more powerful than he expected and he dozes off just after the main course. Hopefully Ray is close by to ensure that he doesn't hurt himself when he slumps forward.
Ray opens her mouth to translate for Jerry, but Steph beats her to it. "She's whining at him to be a lord or some sh$%, and now she's offering us food."
During the speeches, Ray adds in her own translations for Jerry that Steph misses –- being sure nothing good gets left out! Why does Steph always translate the boring junk?
During the speeches, Byron makes the innocent mistake of calling for more ale while the speaker is speaking. The room goes silent and everyone turns to stare at him. Then someone laughs, a gesture that reveals an unsettling number of razor-sharp teeth. Then others chuckle as well, and the crowd seems little concerned by the faux pas.
At some point during the feast, Elehasei approaches Byron and leans over to speak directly into his ear.
"May I speak with you privately, Mister Hasperson? It is urgent."
Byron nods and gets up to follow Elehasei.
"I must ask you something very important. Perhaps because you are not Aslan you will see the sense of what I ask. Do you know that Teeieahailaoa Hteleitoirl Aiyyuwaisaltourlaeiwuiya is going home to be executed? His failure at Arunisiir meant that the clan lord has ordered the death of his favorite son - your friend."
"The one you know as Hteleitoirl is bravely accepting this fate. I cannot seek to dissuade him. If I were to suggest such a thing I would not be fit to be his wife. I would lose him as surely as if I let him die. But you, a human, you can."
"Please, persuade him to go into exile. Up the Drinax chain or out into Sindal subsector. All his friends would follow him if he allowed them to, preferring to live as outcasts than see Hteleitoirl executed."
"Or you could simply take him somewhere else in your ship. Anywhere."
Byron moves through the celebratory crowd and whispers to each of the crew, "We need to talk, gather near the door." He then moves to be near the door and then waits for the others to gather.
Jerry calmly follows Byron to the door, trying not to draw attention to himself.
Steph nods, and moves to the door. "What's up?"
Ray follows, drink in hand. "This better be good."
Byron talks quietly and tries to be discrete.
"Elehasei approached me and said that Hteleitoirl is going to his execution. She asked me to convince him not to do it." Byron looks around to make sure no one is listening in and then says, "She thinks we might convince him to change his plans. And with what we found out for him I think it's worth a try. But changing someone's mind is not my strong suit."
Jerry thinks for a moment before replying. "I can try to influence Hteleitoirl if the rest of you agree."
He waits for the others to respond before leaving to find Hteleitoirl.
"I think it's worth pointing out that he was betrayed. He did not fail or lead his men into disaster based on bad leadership. Instead he faced an impossible task put on him by traitors in his midst. Dying for that wont make things better." Byron says.
"I agree with Byron. I think he should take the evidence of his betrayal back, and bring those that caused this tragedy to justice. He seems more of a fighter to me than one who will take what the fates have handed him."
"I get the impression going to fight this is not an option. If he wants to live we have to take him somewhere else." Byron shakes his head at Steph's optimism.
Jerry considers his companions statements.
"We think alike, it seems. Let me go over and speak with Hteleitoirl. But be ready to come over when I give you the signal."
Jerry threads his way through the crowd to Hteleitoirl.
"Good evening, sir. Thank you for inviting us to join you and your companions this evening."
"You contracted us for transport to Trokh. Over the weeks, we have come to know one another and you have taught me much. You have become more than simply a passenger."
Jerry gestures for his companions to join Hteleitoirl and himself.
"We helped you recover the records that revealed that your loyalty was betrayed. That betrayal of honor would, to a human, be sufficient to end any obligations that you might have made. Aslan are different, but not so very much different."
"Rather than continuing onwards to Trokh as you contracted, we can take you somewhere within the Human sector. Drinax, or somewhere nearby. Honor the bonds that you have with your followers and continue to lead them, lead them to a place where they can honorably follow you and each other."
Ray groans, jealously eyeing the bar. "Ugh. I don't even like this guy. Sure is a lot of work to -- wait. Where are we supposed to take him to get paid? Is this gonna mess up our pay day?"
Steph moves to the table and takes a seat. "We'll take you where you want to go of course. You were betrayed. That I would think changes what happened. You should accuse you're betrayer, not go to your death." She looks around the room. "Your friends and followers, don't feel as if you are dishonorable. We've been traveling for a while together. I don't think you are either. You've shown your character to us. Please think about changing the course of your destiny."
Hteleitoirl looks at you with unreadable eyes, then downs his drink in one go.
"Somebody told you how this ends, then?" His eyes glance around the room.
"What do you know of why? You speak of honor as if it were the same thing as pride. Some humans know honor as we do. For the Aslan it is always a matter of life and death."
"Do you think my clan lord... my father... has ordered my death for his honor? That he is angry with me? No. It is much more than that. The Iuwoi lost prestige at Arunisiir, but many other clans lost prestige too. Our enemies blame us for that and threaten war. Not for honor's sake or even prestige but because this gives them the excuse they have long desired to take our clan holdings, to slaughter our people and make an end of the Iuwoi. And that is what will happen if I do not return to face execution in just over four weeks."
"My friends are here, that is true. But my clan is there. They cannot all go into exile with me, nor would they. They will stay and fight and die unless I go and die for them. So, I go."
PING!
Ray shrugs at his response, then crosses her arms. To her companions she adds, "Hteleitoirl's a big boy. Let him make his own decisions."
"I have seen enough of war to know that your death will not stop the greedy from being willing to come and take what they want. Its a dime a dozen when you start looking for reasons to fight. And if all they want is a head on the plate, I think you should give them the traitor. Not your own. Would that information do nothing to help your position?" Byron asks.
"Is that an option for you, Hteleitoirl?," asks Jerry. "Would revealing the identity of the traitor protect your clan?"
"Or would doing that prompt an all-out attack on your clan? The only other option that I can think of is to have someone ... perhaps us ... either present the evidence on your behalf or, and I hesitate to say this, confront the traitor and threaten to reveal the information.
That might provide protection for your clan."
"Humans find traitors to be without honor, and being setting someone up for death is also dishonorable."
"You have to make your choice. Perhaps if nothing else you could go to your death with you head high naming the traitor and causing them to lose honor for what they have done."
"It is possible," agrees Hteleitoirl, eyes widening slightly. "But we must know who paid the traitor." He turns to Daneel. "Could that information be in the computer files you took?"
Daneel considers, "It's possible. After decrypting the proof that Ehfyohoikoaleai betrayed you, I didn't dig any deeper. I'd be happy to look." He hesitates a moment, unsure, then continues, "Whatever you choose to do, the fact that you are prepared to die to protect your family and clan makes you the most honorable - and brave - person I know."
Hteleitoirl accepts the compliment stoically.
"Captain, I thank you for your concern, but I must now go to Tyokh in the morning. Can your ship be ready to take me then?"
Steph grabs her data pad flipping through a couple of menus. She nods to the Captain that the ship will be ready to go.
The feast proceeds, with rowdy Aslan celebrating the return of their friend. The party gets a little morose at the end, with several Aslan singing songs of sacrifice and loss.
Elehasei excuses herself before midnight and in the wee hours of the morning, so does the guest of honor. You are all makin your ways back towards Nemesis and your bunks in various states of sobriety when you become aware of a late-night disturbance on the Promenade. Someone is shouting and there are sounds of crashing and destruction.
Ray rolls here eyes. "%$*@ing Aslan." She proceeds to keep on walking to her rooms -- until a companion pressures her into checking it out...
Jerry alertrs his companions, in case they have not heard. He then walks with Ray towards the sounds ...
Byron follows along.
You find Hteleitoirl locked in combat about twenty meters away on the second level of the concourse (above your own level). At about the moment you round the corner and see him, the first shots are fired.
A human in travel clothes lays on the floor, his arm clearly broken, while Hteleitoirl wrestles with another who has a blaster in his hand. There is a grav lift that will take you up to the second level if you want to close to hand-to-hand.
Byron breaks into a run as he heads for the lift.
Ticked off that she couldn't bring her gun, Ray grumbles and cusses aloud. She heads for the lift armed with little more than her bad attitude.
Jerry hurries along with his companions, trying to understand what is happening.