In the evening Miuyki will as always prepare the food. Chatting with the others she is eager to learn more about the half-orc woman.
During the camping evening Anton stays more quiet than usual.
"You are more quiet than usual, Anton." "Is there something wrong?"
"I was thinking about our future meeting with the other exploration teams. That's surly something good to meet all those people, but not all of them are...how can I say... affable."
"Interesting. We are a team, correct? I believe there is a charter in effect for erasing banditry in these lands. That kind of effort requires teamwork. Having said that, a team doesn't have to like each other - be 'affable' as you say - they just have to get the job done." Sebastian pokes at the campfire with a stick. "Of course liking each other makes it easier, but that's a personal thing..."
He looks up at Anton. "What...rather who...are you specifically concerned about? Should this be something I need to prepare for?"
Say it as it, there pricks... Never beat around the bush, politeness is for the "civilized" city folk.
Smiling to his fellows Anton start talking:
"I don't think we are in danger. And I consider us a team, Sebastian, even if we probably need to spent more days together to be a optimal team.
All of the others have a charter too, I'm not worried about their exploration capacity, neither about their ability to deal with bandits. We really annihilated a dozen of them at Oleg the first night we arrived in those lands!
I'm worried about the future of this lands. We are going to establish a settlement, a colony. Dealing with few bandit is one thing, ruling a country, even if small, it's another one.
Looking directly to Agrona he adds
I really want to see this lands settled. Not "civilized" with big cities as an Abdarian priest would want, that's not something good in mine opinion like is in yours.
What I'm thinking about is a coexistence with nature, where people could farm, could hunt... Where people could live in the Old Ways.
I think that's one of the reason why Erastil send me here...
Turning again to all the others he continues:
And I was wondering about our dream and past encounter with that creature. What was the meaning if not making us be together as a team?
Your Three, Agrona, sent you a dream, like Erastil did to me and Miyuki. On our way we met two emissaries of the Inheritor. That could not be a case.
We live in a time of changes, we are here to explore, but also to change this lands too, in a way or another. I was thinking about what's the best way to serve our gods in this tasks.
"Hmmm...I do not speak orcish. That is not a word I know, but I can guess the meaning easily enough."
"I can see your concern. For myself, I wish to see justice brought to these lands. Whether by the sword, or the quill, it does not matter as long as it is done. The "prichs" as Agrona put it - did I pronounce it right? - will need to decide whether they want to work as a group to the benefit of all, or work towards their own agenda. In which case we will have to decide what to do with them. I do not have tolerance for petty bickering when there is work to do."
"Do you have enemys? I can understand you well, I think. You want a peaceful future. Some might want a faster pace with big cities to get rich fast. I heard some are even sent by those noble houses."
"I don't have personal enemies. There are some nobles, from the Orlovsky family, and from the other Houses.
There are a lot of interests in this lands, I think probably all the Houses sent at least one representative. And also other organizations.
And Etienne, in case you missed it, I'm a Medvyed of House Medvyed. So I'm a noble too. But Brevian nobles not always lives in big castles in big cities. Only the most important family, the direct legacy bloodlines, does so."
"Ah...noble scions from the various Houses of Brevoy, all sent to establish a buffer zone on their southern border. And all vying for said buffer zone to benefit their house the most no doubt." Sebastian stokes the fire with a sharp poke from his stick, sending a shower of sparks into the night sky. " What have we gotten ourselves into Etienne my friend?"
Miyuki steps in."But you are quite diffrent friend Anton. Others wear their noble standing as shield between them and the "others". They think that their wisdom is the only one, and they are not responsible to other, in their mind, lesser beings. You my friend embrace everyone and try to work with them, to show true nobility!"
"Thank you Miyuki for your words. And thanks to all of you.
About the future project, what will rise in the Stolen Lands will probably depends from us, not directly from our Patrons. All the chartered people have their own agenda, but a colony here in the Stolen Lands will be probably marginal to the political spheres of influence of the Great Houses.
Probably we will be directly under the mandate of the Crown, subjects to the Swordlords of Restov, so not as vassals of one of the Houses.
That could allow us to be a semi-independent kind of Nation. That's all I know from the rumors I got.
And I think what we should need is to have more of us, our team I mean, directly involved, if possible, in the construction of this new nation.
The better we are prepared for the meeting with the other teams, the best we can do to find our place in the leadership roles of what we are going to build.
The next morning when Anton wakes up he prays Erastil and meditate the Nature and handle Berego for the day.
Then he asks to the team is someone else want to lead the exploration for this day.
EDIT: Sebastian's morning routine stays fairly steady, practice with his sword, followed by short prayer to Iomedae.
"No friend, the exploration duties are quite outside of my idiom. I will help as I may, but I leave the task to the experts."
Etienne laughs and adds:"You do a great job. I will aid you!"
Miyuki smiles."Let the smith forge the sword, the bard sing a song and let Anton lead us in this lands.
And let the witchdoctor deal with all matters concerning Orcs.
Looking at the Half-orc Miyuki gathers all her bravery"What is a witch-doctor? Do you heal with dances?
A witchdoctor is one who has through the brutal trials of the Three proven herself worthy to receive their council, we heal by calling upon the Three to heal bone and knit flesh. It may not be pretty, it may be painful but it works. As for dancing that is something that those humans who built the cairn over the Orc burial ground do, they call em "shamans" though.
So I'll lead you, mine friends. Today to the East, tomorrow we cross the forest... and then will be back to Oleg
Etienne shudders when he hears Agrona talk. He enjoys the day in the sun and good company.
While riding in the daily exploration time, Anton starts talking with the others:
"So, mine friends, going back to yesterday's conversation. Does some of you intend to have a more prominent role when we will establish a nation in this lands?"
"That remains to be seen, Anton. For my part, I believe we will need a strong military, and I could be a part of that. I am a trained soldier after all. Or perhaps a guardian of Justice in some way...a Marshall of the land as it were..." Sebastian shrugs. "In any event, I will work with each of you to make this a land to be proud of."
"I do not want to think about it now. But I would be best as a leader of soldiers."
"I understand your positions, Sebastian and Etienn. About me, I'll try to be in some kind of role where I could help the local community, as a councilor or as a priest. Maybe I should try to establish myself as an High Priest, leading the various religious clergy of the future nation. Of course, that's not something I could try to do without any help.
If your looking to found a nation something tells me I will be resuming my role as clan witchdoctor, i'll join in such a venture but I need something from you lot in exchange...
"Perhaps we can help you in some way, if you can help us with the local orcs, in establishing some kind of alliance, or agreement, with your clan. What do you want?"
"I think we will find a way!"
" I agree with Anton. What are you bringing to the table, Agrona? It's a bit premature to be making demands. By all accounts, we are just a small percentage of the whole in this endeavor. You may want to wait until the whole group is together before stating you have requirements in order to join."
Miyuki sighs."Please do not start that train of thaught. Booth of you. It is nothing personal, but we traveled with a shaman of a tribe of human tribal warriors. What he wanted was a place to live for his people, in decency. And there were discussions without end about the what, how, when, if before anyone had even claimed a stone! I think we all want for the settlers a place to live, the people a place to farm and hunt and be save from the boiling civil war."
"<sigh> I am only offering advice. It is important to think about the big picture, but it is for others to see it. We are small pieces in a large world, hoping to become larger contributors. Iomedae teaches us that great leaders put the good of all before themselves. I, for one, hope we get beyond just a "place to farm and hunt".
The next morning Anton does the now usual daily routine, then leads the team back to Oleg.
During the day he starts talking about what the party could shop
"If we have can recover at least 150gp we can buy a wand of cure light wounds. I, Etienne and Miyuki already payed 600gp to Oleg before departing to the Cairn location."
"I will pay my share, just let me know what that may be."
My clan was killed lad, dwarf attack. I have plans to rebuild clan Rivertusk but that means I am going to need new orcs and half orcs, willing or otherwise...
"Agrona, I am willing to help you with your dream of re-building your clan - as long as it does not take away from what we are trying to do here." He looks the witch in the eyes, and with a quiet, but firm voice, says: "But there will be no '...or otherwise.' On my blade, I swear it."
He pauses for a moment. "But come! We are getting ahead of ourselves here! We have a meeting to deal with this "Stag Lord" in several days. This will take all of our strength, and if we succeed, then the next task will be set for us. I fear that we will have many such trials ahead before we can even begin to contemplate our personal goals."
Oh there will be "otherwise", think of it as "Agrona's orc and half orc bandit conscription program"! As for this Stag Lord I need more details...
"Sorry to interrupt you, but you are missing something important.
We have had news about the Stag Lord defeat. So this bandit leader is no more our problem. We are going to meet the other teams at his former fort, now occupied by the members of Team Darkness."
"Interesting name for an adventure company. I am.. surprised! How are the other companys called?"
Smiling Miyuki says"Let us just say some strange folks there"
|
Oleg gladly sells you the two wands, and takes your unwanted gear in exchange for coin, in particular the bracers.
Commander Kesten Garess, in charge of the guard contingent. informs you that he has received word that a caravan of settlers and materials is on it's way from Restov, a gift from the Regent, to aid the settling of these troubled lands. The caravan is apparentoly commanded by a noble named Lory Surtova.
"Surtova, like the royal family. How... interesting!"
"Do you think he wants to... take over? It would be very Surtovian!"
Etienne sighs and talks to Kesten about other recent happenings.
|
|
Commander Garess says that things have been pretty quiet of late. Thanks to the chartered adventurers there has been a sharp decline in banditry as wells as sightings of dangerous monsters and beasts.
Someone recently brought in the head of Tuskrazor, a ferocious boar. He also mentions that when Taldan colonists attempted to colonise these lands recently they discovered valuable minerals in the Kamelands. The Orlovsky party apparently found a rich vein of gold ore somewhere, but the old trappers tell him that there was once a working silver mine as well.
This old silver mine if it still has silver in it seems to be our best best to prosper in these lands, a good amount of silver flowing into our pockets can allow me to buy steel axes, swords, shields, armor and composite bows. Best way to remake clan Rivertusk is by having a powerful witchdoctor and a good warchief who can supply the weapons that orcs value...
" Well I hope you know that this land will be mainly settled by humans. While a clan or two of orcs, who do live in a herding lifestyle or as guards or part of the army can work, marauding bands will not! And I would advice you that.... you might tread softly in this area. Some of the other members are not that open minded!"
"Allow me to buy steel axes etc etc? How exactly is it that you feel that you have the authority to make such purchases? We don't even have said mine, we don't even know if it exists, and you've spent the money. Not to mention you haven't spoken of this plan to the 14+ people still involved in our little endeavor. You are reaching here, Agrona. Walk carefully."