Mordrin strides over and stands behind Light, one hand resting on the back of the chair. "The mayor might be a bit busy for a while. I don't know if you noticed during your nap, but there was an attack on the city. Several halflings were harmed... and a few people died. That being said, perhaps your business could wait until the mayor has finished explaining the current situation. Things around here aren't right. Not right at all."
"one moment,..." she raises a solitary hand to motion a silence. " I'm all for saving lives, and this Elven man looks capable, however we too were told to stay inside. We cannot blame him or the others that stayed inside for following orders of a leader figure. From the moment we left the buildings we took responsibility of our own deaths should they have occurred. That said, I would have thought someone of your capabilities would have relished in being owed by the mayor after possibly saving lives, am I wrong?"
Relieving her hand from a raised position and back to the arm of her chair she adds, "my name is Light, you are?"
Mordrin simply mumbles under his breath, "Hrmph, I'm not the one who went charging out the front door. Only went out there to keep you all alive." He gives Tassadar a sideways glance before turning his attention back to the newcomer.
"Call me Ziggit."
"Wasn't awares of any attacks going on. But the ol' mayor ought ta take care of it. Folks around here seem confident in his abilities."
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"Hmm... yes, the mayor was rather impressive out there, and I suppose I can't blame you for following instructions. Well then, Ziggit, I suppose you can call me Mordrin. Mordrin Green."
"and it was appreciated as well as brave given the circumstances Mordrin. However, when I too left, it was to follow the others I call my comrades and to try and help where it was needed,... that is who I am."
Ziggit nods to Mordrin, "So I'ma gatherin' that y'all are here on accounts of the attacks and o' tha mayor tellin's ya ta come and wait here."
"But what brings you ta this ol' island anyways? You all traders?"
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Kael speaks frankly, " Traders of varied profession yes. This land was on route to a later destination and our crew required rest, trade and supplies like any other. The assistance of mayor Goodwill was conciliatory and honest. It simply means our interests align with the situation in such a way were everyone could benefit too. "
" Ziggit was it? You may designate my person as Kael Rivers. The orcish fellow and other are newly recruited though its sad to say this was their trial by fire. "
Ziggit bites down on his lip and looks back and forth amongst the group, "So where pray tell, is this little group o' traydas here headin'?"
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" That will be determined by the reveal of the information the good mayor provides us. As of current that information is pivotal and the previous destination is known only to those of our crew. It would be convenient if you would understand why. The Sea is a dangerous place, your presence hasn't gained or lost me any trust as of yet. "
Ziggit laughs, "Hah, you've no ideas friend."
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"So we don't trust one anothers."
"I tend ta find that one thing people's of all sorts trust n', it be gold."
"N' I just happen ta haves some. Not ons me, mind."
"So here's where I'ma coming from. If'n y'all are heading by Kartheisly sometimes soon and ya happen o' haves a cabin with a lock, den I can pay solid money for ya time."
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" If you had it, then that might be a deal. But you could get any boat to do the same, there are many others available. "
"How much would you be willing to pay us to drop you in Kartheisly?" Tasdadar inquires.
"We're going to help the mayor, then?"Tassadar sounds unhappy. Presumably having the ideals of his idol shattered does that to you. "Still not sure if we should, considering he wasn't honest with us..."
" If we are doing this Tassadar, it would not be for the mayor, it would be for the people and possible mutual benefit. "
"Ehh, name a price I ain't ever been one for hagglin'."
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" You didn't answer my question. I don't see a reason to take you. "
"As Khael said Tassadar, the mayor got himself into this. While I'm all for helping, I don't work with lost causes that cannot help themselves. Truth of the matter is, we don't know what has happened and until we do, we can't give judgement, only assumptions." She would look to each of her comrades before returning her masked gaze towards Ziggit. "You may prove useful yet, so I wouldn't go as far as to say payment in gold as appealing as it sounds. Assuming we can come to 'trust' one another we may have a more permanent place on our ship for you."
"We reserve the right to later change our minds of course, but such is fair, wouldn't you all agree?"
" I wouldn't agree of even making that assumption. Him being useful has nothing to do with this situation. He is in this house either legally or not. Should things become.. more favorable, then yes it is possible he comes into a better light. "
"We have a stalemate until words prove their worth. But I am saying just that Kael... I doubt any of us would become trustful after just one incursion against a common enemy,... or for the three of us, surviving what we did."
Bringing her hands together, weaving her fingers in front of where her mouth would be. "For now, we wait..."
"Ya ain't ever asked a question, and seein's how you come into this here room without tha mayor, disturb mah rest, den as far as I'm seeing the one in question is you. Pretendin' otherwise is trite."
After a while, a click can be heard from the front door and the mayor steps into the house. He walks into the living room. "Glad to see you've all met Ziggit." He walks to a lone cabinet against the wall and takes out a bottle of whisky and a tray of tumblers and more tea cups. "For those of you who aren't into tea..." He states softly and pours himself a generous helping of whiskey.
Ziggit raises an eyebrow, a particular finger, and inclines his head to the group of newcomers, in particular Kael.
"I suppose we can hear him out.."He traila off uncertainly.
"Tea please."He looks like he is about to burst out with something and does so. "Look, your townsfolk just got killed, Mayor, and you're indulging in alcohol instead of finding a solution?" He rants at the mayor angrily."To think Kael wanted us to help someone like you,"with scorn dripping heavily from his voice.
"He's not celebrating, I'm sure it's just to calm his nerves after the events that have unfolded recently." Light sighs heavily whilst removing her mask now.
"I'll have tea myself if you please Mayor." Ignoring Tassadar's late comment. "There however is much confusion, would you mind filling us in?"
Mayor Goldwill takes a large gulp from his glass tumbler and nods to Lightt, acknowledging her response to Tassadar. He looks into the now half glass of whiskey and he appears he is having a hard time coming up with the words. Eventually he sighs and raises his head to face the group.
"Have you ever loved someone to the point of you would do anything for them. Where it wouldn't matter how far... or to what extent you would need to go to make them happy... and safe. Many years back, I was just a beggar boy, just trying to survive on these streets. Not sure when or if I would get any sort of scrap of food. I wanted to let it end, die in the streets and be forgotten. But then I met her..."
The mayors face seems to relax. You can almost see the memories flooding into his body and causing his muscular frame to shudder. He smiles slightly and stares past the group.
"She was beautiful, Arielle Hovelhome. Hair as black as midnight, always braided around the sides of her head and flowed gently down her back. Her eyes where a piercing blue that you could swear glowed with a brilliance brighter than any sapphire. Carrying herself with such grace, it seemed like time itself would stop when she walked by the marketplace. Rumors that she had been the offspring of a nymph had circulated, but that didn't matter to me... she was, a diamond in the rough. The reason for living..." The mayor seems to snap himself out of his trance and gives quick looks about the room. "Ah... sorry, an old mans tale of lost love surely isn't why you are here."
He takes another large swig of his whiskey and clears his throat. "She became ill, with a rare and terrible illness. I personally took it upon myself to try and find a cure... asking every new ship that came into port if they had a doctor that could heal diseases. Most just shrugged off my requests, seeing no money to be made from me, the ones who did take there time to help, were unable to do anything for her. I became angry, why could no one help her?" He grits his teeth as bad memories began to swell inside him.
"Then... the very first attack happened, a troupe of Ofuda Ogres came into town. I was so distraught, that while everyone ran... I stayed and fought... I stole an axe from the blacksmith and swung with all my might at these giants. Weeks of frustration had built within me and I let it out onto the giants. However they ran, and I chased them for miles across the tundra, refusing to let a single one escape my wrath. I cornered them in an old abandoned mine that I used to play in when I was a boy..."
The mayor is visibly shaken, he downs the rest of the whiskey with a resounding gulp and sets the glass down on the coffee table really hard, to the point where you would think that it would shatter. But it holds and the mayor's head now bows. Seemingly trying to pull forth the next part of the long buried tale out from deep within his very self.
"When I had slaughtered them... and my vision came back to me... I saw the familiar sight of what you have seen today... Arielle was dead... my axe buried in her chest... she had gathered up enough strength to go out side that day to enjoy the sunshine. And now she lays in a dark cave, her blood spilling on the cold ground... and I was the reason why..." Tears begin to stream from the Goldwill's face as he sinks his head into his hands. He breathes hard a few times and wipes away the tears.
"That's when I heard him, the same voice you all heard today. That ominous voice that felt like it was all around you. It said it could bring her back to life. Make her whole again. All I had to do was fight his creations in town without damaging those it took inside. Every time they came, I was to fight them off. A game, to see how many townsfolk he could take every time vs. how many I could save, If I reached 300 saved before he reached 1000 taken, he agreed to bring her back and return all the townsfolk back to the town. The ones who would get taken are forgotten... as if they never existed in the first place and would not remember the ordeal, some strange form of magic... no price was too big to pay I thought at the time and I agreed, lost in the moment I agreed. When I returned to town, covered in blood, the halflings praised me for saving them, killing the giants with 'no casualties'... They eventually appointed me mayor for my 'heroic deeds' of saving the townsfolk over and over... again with no casualties... I saw fit to ban anyone else from fighting the things due to only trusting myself with the matter, almost as a selfish repentance for my stupid actions."
The mayor stands suddenly and walks away from the group over to a curtained window. He peers through the small opening on one side and a line of sun comes down vertically along his face. "His last raid 4 months ago marked my 275 save and his 994 taken. I was only able to save 14 today... Even after 20 years, I still have failed!" He slams his fist into the wall which cracks the board. "I know I must look like the scum of the earth to you now, a mayor, making such a pact with an evil creature... please I beg you all, help me..." He leans his head against the molding of the window, as if preparing to be scolded.
Given a moment of silence Light thought thoroughly through this information given. Something didn't add up to her still. "there is something that doesn't add up. This evil person has eyes on the town... more like, "in" the town. He could very well be watching and listening to us right now for all we know... given that he has lived so long tells me he is powerful and wise enough to stay hidden. But to forget those that have been murdered, painful as it seems, to me being forgotten is far worse simply than death. That I cannot forgive...."
She looks to the others, "by no means have I come to trust you just yet... but if what happened earlier isn't stopped and I could've saved them, but didnt?... that I cannot let haunt my mind."
Light takes her drink and raises her glass as if to agree to her word by a simple clinking of glasses. Her eyes would stay intently locked with Goodwill's
"If'n some person be stealin' away folk, what be their purpose? It can't be for eats, yeah? Halflin's don't seem ta haves much meat on dey bones, n' only stealing away a handful every few months." Ziggit shrugs.
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"Aye... I was but a boy when it happened, though as far as I know the only one who has actually died has been Arielle, the halfing woman and those other two today. Hence why such a grizzly scene was so shocking for the townsfolk outside the Taphouse... to them, it is the first unnatural death in over 20 years..."
The mayor turns to Ziggit. "He wrapped Arielle in some type of paper like cocoon of sorts covered in strange writing, similar to what the Ofuda are made from... said it would preserve her from time. I'm guessing that's how he is keeping the other townsfolk alive all this time. To what ends I simply do not know."
Kael stared hard at the mayor, then Ziggit, until eventually his eyes laid on nothing in particular. The situation was far fetched, the worst case being so many people were missing and others lost as if nothing had happened. The worst being it all for some game. There was no way this would go well nor could this figure be trusted to complete their deal.
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Kael reaches the inner recesses of his mind.
Afterward cross-referencing that which he knew with the mayor's story and sincerity.
You believe everything checks out with what the mayor has stated and the info you yourself know.
"Ehh, I s'pose maybe it's some sort o' devil fruity type ability behind it I guess, but I'm not familiar."
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" This is highly concerning. Mayor Goodwill, while I still feel your decision was emotionally charged, I will say it was asking nothing more than the average or even heroically inclined to accomplish. The situation is such that the task is surmounting and much to Ziggit's suspicions I verify this is of a Devil Fruit's capability. One of great magnitude. "
Kael wanders close to Goodwill's side. " His power is enormous in magical craft as well, this creature far above minor tricks and baubles. Goodwill's plight is real and sincere, he requires our help. I have decided on my vote on the matter. Tassadar, if you had any doubt in his motives they should be dispelled. "
" The real question now is.. how to best go about this task? As I assume you have simply waited for the enigma to strike? Any attempt to leave the halflings to combat this threat would of course have them besieged by those Ofuda creations and promptly wiped from existence by said mysterious power. At least that was the previous situation Goodwill was in, the current has our group as an outside factor to break the chain. "
Tassadar sucks in a breath then exhales as the mayor told his story. There was a reason why the mayor did what he did, a good one, but his ultimate intentions were selfish. Tassadar idly wondered if that voice actually meant to keep its word, or would subvert the mayors request. He suspected the latter. How much more enjoyment would the voice derive from making the mayor think that victory was within reach? "That's a fine mess you got there," as he blatantly states the obvious, cuttingly. "I will help. For the townsfolk, not for you,"he answers curtly.
"I suggest we investigate the Ofuda remains in town. There may be some magical residues to mark where they come from. Or some tracks." He turns to the Mayor. "If you have any diviners in town, their assistance will be appreciated."
"After that, we can investigate the old mine where the mayor heard the voice."
"breaking it further down, said individual knows there is a game he can play. In other words he has control and conditions to be met via circumstance. It sounds to me as if the person behind this is not only trying to destroy the mayor mentally and emotionally, but keep him in a limbo where he cannot un-bury himself from his regrets. He knows the mayor can single handedly beat these... I'd go as far as to assume it's most likely that the mayor himself is his target."
As basic her reasoning was Light also felt it was best to at least bring up. "it's a good place to start being based on what we know"
"Well remind me o' sumthin' real quick, if'n I'ma not mistaken, den didn't these giants be attacking this island long for the mayor was born?"
"I think its more likely the mayor got in the way, and the thing deicided to make a deal with the mayor so he would stop other people from interfering with its plans." Tassadar replies.
"There are creatures from other planes that demand the sacrifice of living things. Halflings, despite their small size, are fine, for it is souls they seek.A halfling, in their eyes is as worthy as any other." He speaks, his eyes distant and his voice remote, as if repeating something he had heard somewhere before by rote, not fully comprehending its meaning.
Wait...a minute. Did I really say that?", with a look of revulsion on his face. "That's sick! Urgh. Where did that bit of disgusting knowledge come from?" He wrinkles his face.
"this is true, however I'm also curious how often these attacks happen..."
" Tassadar, you may not realize this but the Mayor, while selfish the Mayor made a choice that would best benefit the people more than him. He is one man, constantly being bombarded by faux-giants and even with his efforts losing about 17 of his people per raid; assuming this happens every four months. You need to reevaluate your position Tassadar. "
Kael looks to the rest but gives the half-orc a nod.
" Information on frequency would be convenient, but ultimately this situation is grim. We must include that our very involvement has changed the possible stakes and situation and the voice could account for that. Tassadar mentioned the Old mines, but there is no guarantee a direct conflict would lessen or inflate the situation. Worse yet, I cannot fully affirm the entity is wholly malicious. "
" Mayor Goodwill... did you have any other childhood friends that you used to play with in the mines? Your beloved was sick with an incurable ailment for sure but does it not seem odd the entity would pick that moment to strike and take her specifically. "
"I believe I know where you're going Khael... there is possibility of a grudge held by a childhood "friend"... what if they indeed were trying to preserve the girl, but also taking out vengeance upon the town for not caring enough to find her help... then with the mayor''s blinded rage took the life of the mutual love interest."
Randomly reaching out for any possibility that comes to mind, she feels it a better way of sorting out any and all thoughts as random as they are. "I may be wrong but it may also be better for clearing the possibilities from the equation."
" Your intuition is not unsound Light. Possibly the other way around. The Mayor himself could be the love interest. He seems able to remember while all the halflings do not, that may not apply to simply this game. I would like to ascertain any useful information is gathered here first. "
"I played by myself at the mines, I used to find broken pick axes and pretend they where swords and I would fight invisible enemies. How ironic that for the past 20 years I've been fighting a real invisible enemy." The mayor pauses and listens to the others discuss before interjecting after Kael mentions remembering the halflings.
"I... I do get terrible nightmares every night a raid takes place... I'm walking down the mines... for hours it seems, weaving in and out of tunnels. Before coming to a huge chamber, lined with many Ofuda cocoons... each time I dream, more and more line the walls. I walk up behind a ornate robed figure, a veil of darkness covers his face. He lays each halfling into a prepared cocoon as I stand in the center watching, seeing each and everyone of their faces... vanishing into the cover of that symboled paper. I then realize I'm the robed figure and sink into a blueish red pool of crystals as if they were made of water. I scream myself awake... always with a number in my mind, a new, larger number... Last time it was 994..."
As Goodwill finishes his words, Kael's eyes slowly shift to Light's and he almost seems to send a message through thought before moving back to Goodwill.
" This happens.. Every time? Without fail? And it is always in the mines? Have you tried to find that same place after such a nightmare? "
"Yes... Everytime. The prospect of returning to the mines scares me. From my nightmares and what had happened there... so no... I haven't. Though, as a child I explored the entire thing myself, I never found such a chamber..."
"No, he has not made the right choice."His eyes bore into the Mayor. "The voice played him like a lute."Facing the mayor, he continues, his voice harsh and unconpromising."In the first place, what made YOU think that the voice would have kept its word. It promised that it would bring the townsfolk back to town, there was no mention of whether it would bring the towns folk back alive. It could have given you their dried up corpses and still have fulfilled the letter of the bargain."
"As for Arielle, bringing her back whole could mean raising her as undead, which would also fulfill the letter of the bargain. Did you ever think the voice would fulfil the spirit if the bargain?"
He turns to Kael. "In his pride and folly, he made a deal with an evil power, keeping his people ignorant of the threat. In fact, even to the point of forbidding them to get involved. When he should have organized the village to search for the voice to deal with it. To shore up the village defences. And you say he made the right choice?"
"Enough said, though. This blaming serves no further purpose. The mine seems like a good place to start, but we should examine the Ofudas and also grab every incendiary in town in case we run into any opposition."
"It is my understanding that the mayor is well aware of this Tassadar... however, this deal was made when he was but a child, in a bad situation and wasn't mature enough to know better. He was taken advantage of. From what I gather over the years he kept it out of fear for the contract's obligations and what his failure would cost. If he fails, more innocent lives are lost, this is a dangerous game where lives are at stake."
She takes a deep breath now turning to look at Tassadar, "what would've happened if he did as you say? He'd gotten the city to look for this man?... Panic... they'd have panicked and possibly thought him crazy seeing as none of them remember those that were murdered. There's no telling what his end entails should he break the rules. The person behind this could very well be anyone, anywhere, and doing anything. It just so happens that we don't know the extent of his power. Basically, what's stopping him from rampaging and taking out the city for all we know? thus far, it's been loss after loss yet there hasn't been an overrun attempt."
Light's eyes now look past Tassadar as her imagination replayed her words with horrific detail in her mind. Turning back to the mayor she says simply, "Be as it may, the town has my support. That is all that is needed before we argue further. Regardless of belief, I'll stand by my morals in helping lift the townspeople from this nightmare... who's with me?" raising her glass once more to her lips she falls silent giving a like-wise look to Kael as her words soaked into the others.
"Left the place to find someone who could break the enchantment, if no one down here would believe him. Enchantments are quite specific, and to wipe the knowledge of the whole world...not very possible."He replies."For one, people from outside like us, know the townsfolk have been taken.It shows the enchantment is not foolproof."
"Come on. The faster we get to business, the faster we can put an end to this. As I stated earlier, arguing who's fault it is isn't going to change matters."