When he finishes he turns to you puts his hand on your shoulder and says quietly: "Did you have anything ta say?"
"I was never much for sermons, but..." She sees Jhod nodding, and takes a deep breath.
"When you're on the battlefield, fighting for what you believe in. And you know, you just know that if you stay in the cross fire for one more second, that family is going to escape...it's worth the sacrfice. It's a noble death."
"But when you are...used as a sign post. Minding your own business, too. That's what's wrong. We failed ya. This is not how you should have ended. I hope Pharasma takes good care of you, and I hope for one day where your children get to die of old age, and not senseless violence."
Scarlet stands still for a few moments before nodding to Jhod. "Alright, I'm good."
Once everyone has given their final words, Scarlet heaves the first shovel of dirt onto her shovel, nods silently, and begins throwing the dirt back into the graves.
Looks like the fight is never over, right brother?
Alia remains silent at the burial, thinking of her two friends who probably were burned or left for animals, rather than being given a proper grave.
Later, with the artist:
Alia will throw one of her two remaining Gold Coins up into the air, then use Prestidigitation to make it spin and hover over to Esme.
"I think we all could use some entertainment. I am not knowledgeable in these matters, and Chelish or Taldan is one to me, so I leave it to your judgement. We had a few long days of travel, and just had a burial to take care of. I would welcome a chance to wash myself, and a good dinner. I suggest after that, you perform, if thats ok with you?"
Celyne simply says, "Rest in peace, poor travelers. May the moon bless your spirits with her holy light." She joins Scarlet in tossing a handful of dirt into the hole, but letting those more suited to physical labor actually do the filling in.
Zokon walks over to the bandit prisoners and asks "A ring a Tatzylworm shaped ring was taken from Svetlana of the outpost, first to give me good information on what happened to it gets to share my rations wherever we take you to."
When with Jhod Zokon shakes his head when approached to speak, staying silent and contemplative.
When the halfling starts singing he does his best grumpy cat and stalks off to the far side of the fort.
Posh remains silent as he looks over the scene.
"It saddens me that we were unable to save you like we saved Scarlet and Alia here. I hope that this is the last time we have to deal with bodies left by the Stag Lord..." Posh goes quiet for a moment as a unusual fire rises in his eyes and his fists shake. "I'll see his head mounted on a pike and paraded all over the Greenbelt for this! ...Excuse me" he sighs as he excuses himself away from the group for a moment as he struggles with something.
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When he finishes he turns to you puts his hand on your shoulder and says quietly: "Did you have anything ta say?"
Numalar nods solemnly, and quietly listens to the others until it is his turn.
"Whatever happened in the past, may you have peace now. This land will not always be in darkness."
Numalar stretches out his hand towards the bodies. Slowly, the stag marks fade away, leaving their skin clean and unmarked. Even the burial shrouds seem clean, though the wounds on the bodies remain.
Numalar waits respectfully as others fill in the grave. Once the bodies are covered he turns and returns to the trading post.
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After returning...
"Times being what they are, I can do you a selection of Chelish or Taldan romances, for the cost of a melody." She brushes her high boot against an iron cooking pot on the corner of the stage. "There can be music in even a single coin--be it gold."
Numalar grins wryly. "I have no taste for things Chelish. I know that empire was great once, but the thought of the House of Thrune would spoil it for me, I'm afraid."
Numalar fishes out a gold piece and throws it in the pot. "Perhaps something of Taldor then. Something from days long ago, when that land still had a bright future."
Zokon walks over to the bandit prisoners and asks "A ring a Tatzylworm shaped ring was taken from Svetlana of the outpost, first to give me good information on what happened to it gets to share my rations wherever we take you to."
"Mites."
Alia will throw one of her two remaining Gold Coins up into the air, then use Prestidigitation to make it spin and hover over to Esme.
"I think we all could use some entertainment. I am not knowledgeable in these matters, and Chelish or Taldan is one to me, so I leave it to your judgement. We had a few long days of travel, and just had a burial to take care of. I would welcome a chance to wash myself, and a good dinner. I suggest after that, you perform, if thats ok with you?"
and...
Numalar grins wryly. "I have no taste for things Chelish. I know that empire was great once, but the thought of the House of Thrune would spoil it for me, I'm afraid."
Numalar fishes out a gold piece and throws it in the pot. "Perhaps something of Taldor then. Something from days long ago, when that land still had a bright future."
She inspects whatever coin ends up in her possession as if she were trading in rare jewels. She looks at their detail, weighs them in her hand and finally bites each one to determine it's reality. Then as if to disprove that very assertion, she makes each one disappear.
Perhaps Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter, or The Murder of Gonzago? Now there's a real blood bath." Esme says the last bit seemingly to air beside you.
When he finishes he turns to you puts his hand on your shoulder and says quietly: "Did you have anything ta say?""I was never much for sermons, but..." She sees Jhod nodding, and takes a deep breath.
"Me neither." Jhod says and then he smiles a smile that borders on pained and wistful.
"Addressing Faeria, what are mites?"
Perhaps Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter, or The Murder of Gonzago? Now there's a real blood bath." Esme says the last bit seemingly to air beside you.
"If it's between those two, I'd go with Romeo and Ethel. I've never seen the Ocean. Only Lake Encarthan, which is not the same despite it's size. The sea does hold some fascination and mystery for me, then, while there's been plenty of murder around here, too, even if no one named Gonzago was a victim."
Zokon walks over to the bandit prisoners and asks "A ring a Tatzylworm shaped ring was taken from Svetlana of the outpost, first to give me good information on what happened to it gets to share my rations wherever we take you to.""Mites."
"You heard Zokon. What are these Mites? We need more information, here."
Faeria looks at Scarlet and Zokon both as if surprised to see them. Her glassy-eyed expression disappears and becomes one more resembling incredulity as if the word 'mites' was enough. As if its meaning were as obvious as the word 'nose.'
She straightens up, and would have dusted herself off had she not been bound. She looks them both over again--suspiciously. Then in a tone of voice that makes her seem not quite awake nor wholly sober she says: "Well hello there. Did I imagine you? I can't imagine that I imagined her. Then again I can't imagine anyone imagining someone as unimaginably handsome as you."
"What was the question? Mites? Is that a question? They were once creatures of the previous world, the world before this one, the first one. Creatures like those." She nods toward the gnomes. Then taking advantage of the momentary distraction she shuffle/hops closer to Zokon to admire him from a better angle.
"They were smaller, and finer of course, and had tiny wasp's wings back then. But then the their world went away and left them here. And here isn't the same as there, obviously. Over time, the cruel, hard, new world twisted them with its truth. They grew bigger and flabbier--their heads grew even bigger--like swamp melons, and their skin became the color of those bruises on my wrists--they're like drowned babies."
She pauses, musing over something terrible for a moment.
"As the light colors of the before world left the now world they dimmed as well. I can make colors! Have you seen them? I could show you. Anyway, their wings fell off and they grew malicious and wild--for now no one felt awe at their terrible beauty--it had all gone, all gone wrong. Only bugs would serve them now. They took to living in the earth with the wriggling things. And there, I think, in a cave somewhere they finally went mad...."
She pauses again. When she returns she seems a bit shaken but focused.
"They snuck into camp one night--it might have been a dream, but I think it was them by all giggling noises I heard after one of them stabbed Kressle's new boyfriend, Bruiser, in the thigh. They stole our bag of copper and cheap trinkets, I think I saw your wyrm ring in there."
Then looking into Zokon's eyes, in a voice that for the first time seems fully awake Faeria says: "It was those little, blue meanies that took it."
Perhaps Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter, or The Murder of Gonzago? Now there's a real blood bath." Esme says the last bit seemingly to air beside you."If it's between those two, I'd go with Romeo and Ethel. I've never seen the Ocean. Only Lake Encarthan, which is not the same despite it's size. The sea does hold some fascination and mystery for me, then, while there's been plenty of murder around here, too, even if no one named Gonzago was a victim."
"Then off to your baths and bacon and upon your return you shall have the Tragedy of Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter for desert!" She shoos you all away and drops the curtain upon her mobile stage.
"I'll start dinner." Svetlana says cheerily.
At that Oleg shoots a slightly more-sever-than-his-usual-look look at Numalar, Zokon, Celyne and Posh.
"And I'll arrange the men for the prisoner detail. When did you want to leave?
Scarlet listens patiently to Faeria's ramblings, rolling her eyes as she flirts/drools on Zokon. "So, there's a cave they come from, is there? How close is it to your camp? Don't tell me you imagined that part."
Scarlet takes the time to pull out a map of the area, and asks for an approximate location of the cavern. She then tries to corroborate the story with some of the more lucid prisoners.
When Kesten Garess talks about prisoner detail, she turns her attention to him. "We leave tomorrow. Right everyone?"
Later during dinner, Scarlet tastes Svetlana's stew and almost begins weeping. "After so many days of rations, and I get something this good? And then it's back to rations? A crime, I tell you!"
"Cave?" She starts, as if Scarlet suddenly appeared before her out of thin air. "Oh, that's just part of the story. I don't know where these mites came from. Heehee."
Alia takes some time properly cleaning herself. Prestidigitation helped, but the feeling of water and soap on one's skin was a whole different thing. It made one FEEL clean, rather than just making one clean.
After the lenghty procedure, she tastes Svetlana's cooking for the first time:"This tasted wonderful. What kinds of spices and herbs did you use for this?" Once done chatting with Svetlana, she will settle down in front of the mobile stage, and enjoy the calm and chance to rest until the play starts.
"Excellent Faeria, thankyou for the information"
"Thankyou again Svetlana for the wonderful repast, may you continue to prosper and stay safe while we are away"
"Faeria seems to not be in her right mind, it may appear she was manipulated into her role as a bandit, can you determine if my thoughts are true?"
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"Faeria seems to not be in her right mind, it may appear she was manipulated into her role as a bandit, can you determine if my thoughts are true?"
Numalar grins. "If what you are saying is true, she may not have even known she was a bandit. But... I am no mind reader. I have no way of telling if someone is lying any more than you. Still..."
"I detect no deception on my part. What she says about gnomes is indeed true... we were once of the First World long ago. Indeed that was where Valdralee was. And we have heard the term 'blue meanies' before, have we not? We have to investigate them anyway, so we can look for the ring while we are there."
"And I'll arrange the men for the prisoner detail. When did you want to leave?
"First thing tomorrow I'd imagine, Sir Kesten. However, it looks like we will be escorting the prisoners ourselves; if you wish to assign extra men to assist us they would be welcome, but I'm not sure they are necessary."
"I have a spell that will compel her to speak the truth if it affects her... but if she is truly not in her right mind, she may not know the difference between truth and fabrication , so the spell may not affect her as expected. Do you want me to try it?"
"Cave?" She starts, as if Scarlet suddenly appeared before her out of thin air. "Oh, that's just part of the story. I don't know where these mites came from. Heehee."
Scarlet's eyes roll even harder than usual. "I guess we'll keep on the lookout for mites, then. Thanks." I'm no good with prisoners...
Scarlet looks for some pebbles to juggle during the night's entertainment. She's restless and unable to sit still.
wo households, both alike in dignity,
In proud Oppara, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of my stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, my toil shall strive to mend."
Esme performs the whole thing herself via the contrivances of half-face make up (to appear as two people at once with but the turn of a cheek), quick costume changes (she's wearing about three sets of clothes at the start), the use of cleverly concealed levers and pulleys, and at one point audience participation.
During the big sea battle betwixt the protagonist and his beloved's villainous cousin, Tybolt, Esme hands Celyne the ship's wheel and a commodore's hat entreating her as the hero to pull aside Tybolt's vessel so that the party might perform a boarding action in the face of stiff pirate puppet opposition, then quickly ducking away as buckets of water stashed above the stage drenched the crew for added realism. Among the crew are Svetlana (as ship's doctor), and guardsmen Paun and Pease (ship's boatswain and ballista gunner# 1 respectively) and even Oleg at his young wife's insistence (ship's figurehead).
The death scene at the end leaves nary a dry eye in the audience. Paun blames it on his cat allergy, and the fact he is still soaked from the naval battle. Jhod is among the first to stand and clap at the end. The only one of the trading post's regulars not in direct attendance is Kesten who stands watch on the wall.
Scarlet, as always, is restless as the play starts. She has a couple of pebbles in her hand, but as the play continues she stops. Her hair has a dull red glow as she begins hanging off of every word and every action.
"Oh, watch out! Don't go that way, I bet he's the killer! Say you love him you silly lug!" Scarlet is vastly more energetic than before, like a child watching the carnival. She has to be quieted throughout the play lest she jump out of her seat and take over the play herself.
Scarlet is dead quiet as the play comes to its conclusion, and weeps silently when she realizes the captain will never sail again. She seems pretty torn up about it, only gasping for enough air to say she's OK. Her handkerchief, however clearly won't survive the night as she wipes her tears and blows into it repeatedly.
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The death scene at the end leaves nary a dry eye in the audience....
After the performance ends, Numalar sits quietly for a moment. He then stands up to his full 3'6", and begins clapping loudly. "Huzzah!" he shouts. "Bravo!" He continues clapping and cheering until at least one curtain call passes.
When Esme comes down off the stage, he says to her warmly: "Very well done. And with no crew either! I had not expected to see quality theatre out here in the wilds. What are your plans for the future?"
Numalar looks around to the others. "So, friends, are we resolved to taking these prisoners back to civilization ourselves? Cyrielle will be heading that way, but I would not want her to do it alone, and I don't think the trading post can spare the guards."
Numalar's good humour seems to leave him. "On the other hand... we could perform some executions here. Our charter empowers us to do so, and I definitely think Kressle at least should hang, based on the things the Levetons have told us. As to the others, I am not so sure."
When Zokon hears the cheering at the end of the performance he returns to where the others are gathered.
"Kressle yes, the others well, I don't know"
As festivities die down and the talk turns to executing prisoners, Scarlet stands shakes her head. "If we were in the heat of battle, and I struck Kressle down, full force. That would be one thing. But at our mercy like this? I'd rather her rot in prison til the end of her days."
"Then again, I don't have a charter whathosit to do that." She shakes her head and mumbles to herself. "This is a lot easier when I was just a mercenary, following orders..."
"I agree Kressle should die, but I'd rather not have her blood on my hands. If we take them to Rostov, most likely all will die, as that is the sentence for banditry. If we let them go out here, they will just return to the Stag Lord, so that is not an option. The Levetons are not equipped to keep them imprisoned, so that is not an option either. I think we need to take the trip to Rostov, we might as well take them all, and let the authorities there deal with them. It may not earn us any laurels there, since we are empowered to deal with them ourselves, but it is a good option."
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"I'd rather her rot in prison til the end of her days."
Numalar looks at Scarlet with a raised eyebrow. "Would you pay for her soujourn there? The Brevics won't. No, it will be the noose for her unless we intercede on her behalf, and I am not inclined to do that. The question is simply now or later."
"Then again, I don't have a charter whathosit to do that."
"Make no mistake, dear Scarlet," Numalar smiles. "We are not within the borders of any lawful kingdom. Out here you may do what you will and a little piece of paper does not empower you nor protect you. The only value it has is that if we return to Brevoy we can use it to justify our actions, should someone there wish to hold us to account. We can hold up our charters and say we are good Brevic citizens. Having never been to Brevoy I doubt you will have to worry."
"If we let them go out here, they will just return to the Stag Lord, so that is not an option."
Numjalar nods. "I agree, but I don't think anyone is suggesting that we release any of them. But if we wish to show them any mercy at all, in whatever form, it must be now. The Swordlords are unlikely to be moved by their pleas, and would value a good example for the masses more than the lives of a few vagabonds."
"I will point out, Celyne, that it was you who prevented those three there from dying of their wounds. Did you have something in mind for them once you had done that? If they had died out there they would have at least died free."
"I was hoping to redeem them... which we might still be able to do on the journey - but even moreso, hoping to get information from them... that seems to not be the case though." She shrugs.
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"I was hoping to redeem them... which we might still be able to do on the journey - but even moreso, hoping to get information from them... that seems to not be the case though." She shrugs.
"Well... we did get something out of the witch, though we cannot know if it is true. Do you think we should try to speak to any of them further? If any of them are to be 'redeemed,' 'twould be best to separate them from the others now than have to explain their presence once we reach Brevoy."
"I have no idea if any of them would know anything... or if they'd talk if they did... I'm guessing the woman as their leader would have the most information about the stag lord and his operations... the others are probably just followers and may not know anything of value. As I offered before, if we do question them, or her further, I do have a spell that compels them to speak truth, or say nothing at all, it might give us a better idea of what is real."
Numalar looks at Scarlet with a raised eyebrow. "Would you pay for her soujourn there? The Brevics won't. No, it will be the noose for her unless we intercede on her behalf, and I am not inclined to do that. The question is simply now or later."
"I ain't rich, Numa. If Kressle's going to hang then so be it. But not when she's at my mercy. I ain't no executioner."
Hearing Ceylene's explanation, Scarlet has a faint smile. "Even if you compel them to tell the truth and swear to reform, they need some way to earn a living. No idea if a mercenary group would be willing to take them in, or the local militia. We don't have the time or resources to set them up like that."
"Not only that, they could recant their oaths promises as well and return to banditry - it only keeps them from lying NOW, they can change their minds later if things don't work out for them."
"They can also serve a useful function as future examples to those thinking engage in banditry in these lands and hopefully make them reconsider. In that case we shall also need to be known for mercy, otherwise our opponents will never surrender and shall fight as if truly desperate."
Posh shakes his head.
"I agree they should be tried, but I believe we should give them an opportunity at redemption. Those who don't redeem I have no sympathy for, but we should give them all a chance. I do not agree with needlessly slaying them if we can offer them a better chance." Posh makes sure to speak up for this group of bandits. "I'd like to talk to them. Find out if they know anything about this Stag Lord so that we can get a jump on him."
Posh shakes his head.
"I agree they should be tried, but I believe we should give them an opportunity at redemption. Those who don't redeem I have no sympathy for, but we should give them all a chance. I do not agree with needlessly slaying them if we can offer them a better chance." Posh makes sure to speak up for this group of bandits. "I'd like to talk to them. Find out if they know anything about this Stag Lord so that we can get a jump on him."
"I hope you don't mind doing the talkin', then. I'm not good at playin' nice, but unless we're ready to bribe the authorities into sparin' them, the Brevic judges will hang these bandits."
Posh shakes his head.
"I agree they should be tried, but I believe we should give them an opportunity at redemption. Those who don't redeem I have no sympathy for, but we should give them all a chance. I do not agree with needlessly slaying them if we can offer them a better chance." Posh makes sure to speak up for this group of bandits. "I'd like to talk to them. Find out if they know anything about this Stag Lord so that we can get a jump on him.""I hope you don't mind doing the talkin', then. I'm not good at playin' nice, but unless we're ready to bribe the authorities into sparin' them, the Brevic judges will hang these bandits."
"I'd like to give these people the option. Many people turn to this life to raise money for family out of desperation whilst others just want to watch the world burn and laugh. I have no sympathy for the latter, but if he claim these lands and make them safe I'm sure we'd be able to find employment for those who only wish to help their families and better themselves along the way." Posh smiles with optimism "I may need your hand in the begining, but Kressel may be the hardest one to deal with as many of you seem to want her dead. I can't fault you on your reasons, but she maybe more useful on our side. Atleast, until this Stag Lord has been taken care of."
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"I'd like to give these people the option..."
Numalar nods. "I for one am inclined to agree... within limits. These people need to earn our trust again, but if we can give them the opportunity to do so safely then we should do it."
"I have already planted the notion that redemption may be possible in the minds of Chick and Wilbur... perhaps that will bear fruit."
"...they need some way to earn a living...."
Numalar looks around at the trading post. "It has occurred to me that now that this outpost has guards living here, the demands on Oleg and Svetlana have increased dramatically, what with having four permanent houseguests. Perhaps those we are willing to parole could be put to productive use around here? With Sir Kesten and the three guards they have someone to keep an eye on them."
"They can also serve a useful function as future examples..."
"Indeed, and as I mentioned this is likely the only value the Swordlords will see in our prisoners."
"In that case we shall also need to be known for mercy...."
"Mercy to those who surrender themselves to us? Certainly. But mercy to those who do not, and happen to survive their wounds? Of that I am not sure. Some might be grateful for their lives, while others would hate us even more. Evil men know the inclinations of the good and will use subterfuge to gain mercy when at a disadvantage."
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"Kressel may be the hardest one to deal with as many of you seem to want her dead...."
"I count the Levetons as honest folk, and if you had heard their description of her dealings with them you would probably conclude that she is too dangerous. She is unlikely to be of the kind that would be willing to accept 'correction' from the likes of us, and should we show her mercy I suspect she would simply be biding her time until she could escape and plan her revenge. I know she would be more useful on our side but you can say that about anyone. Meanwhile I would always be expecting a hatchet in the back in the middle of the night should we spare her life."
"Chick and Wilbur might be the easiest to convince first. We can leave Kressle to last as I know a number of you want to see her dead and she possibly feels the same." Posh states, highlighting the situation "I hope we can come to somekind of an arrangement."