Goblin Squad Member
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Theodum was sitting with all the kids from the settlement in the Spire’s Retreat. There wasn’t a school in Emerald Lodge and this early in the morning was the only time without any customer. So the inn also acted as an impromptu school building.
Theodum looked around at the 5 young boyrs and girls aged 5 to 12 and started to talk. Good morning boys and girls. It is great that nearly all of you have come. Learning is important and today I wanted to talk to you about honour. Honour is something valued very much in the River Kingdoms. Honour is something you can’t buy with silver or gold. No matter how rich you are – if you wander down to Hammerfall or up to Marchmont – you won’t be able to buy it in the auction house. So who knows the most important rule of the River Kingdoms?
Three hands shot up and Theodum pointed to the young red haired girl which had her hand up in the air. You have what you hold..
Theodum smiled Well done Ayra – well done. Yes everyone here knows that you have what you hold is important in this lands. So who can give me the name of a well known and honourable bandit?
Grots hand shot up in the air. The half-orc boy was large for his 9 years and tended to listen but it was rare that he ever said a word. Master Theodum – Blodvaerd – Blodvaerd is such a bandit. He is the greatest bandit in all of the River Kingdoms. He is leading the Unnamed Company. I heard he can extract money even from Paladins and Lords. But he had a good heart. Have you heard the story of Blodvaerd how he helped a peasant to get his belongings back when he was waylaid by goblins just outside Marchmont. One day I will become a member of the Unnamed Company and I will be Blodvaerds best fighter.
Theodum smiled – he never had heard Grots speak so much. This small boy had a bright future if he kept teaching him the right ways of the River Kingdoms. Grots – that was a great answer! He took a sweet out of his robe and it arched towards the boy who snatched it out of the air before any of the others could take it from him.
Grots – that was a great answer – but do you also know someone whom you wouldn’t want to follow or join? .
The smile on the face of the young half orc disappeared and was replaced by feelings of disgust. He spit out the half eaten sweet. Decius Brutus – he is nothing better as a thief. He took away the new silver holy symbol from Bellows McGurk when he was send to Pharasma’s shrine just outside the Lodge after losing against an undead champion. Thod has offered a reward – the best sword that our weapon smith has forged so far. I will earn this bounty. Baron is teaching me and I will show Baron how good I am by bringing Decius head to him.
Grots brandied his rusty dog cleaver – half broken – a poor weapon and likely discarded by a goblin when he got hold of something better from an unwary traveller. But the young half orc brandished it threatingly and it seemed his prized procession. This certainly would be no match for a veteran of fighter Decius. But Theodum wouldn’t discourage Grots. He was young and still had lots to learn.
Grots – that is a great example. And that brings me back to the question of honour and the River Freedoms. Indeed the most important one is You have what you hold. But too many people in the River Kingdoms don’t use the full description of this River Kingdom Freedom. The full text should be
You have what you hold—that is, what you can keep hold of is yours to keep. Armed robbery is almost praiseworthy in the River Kingdoms, a major contributor to the region’s bandit problems, but burglary—denying the victim a chance to resist—is viewed as cowardly.
So always keep in mind for honour it is not only important that you have what you hold. For honour it is important how you got hold of it. And honour is something you can’t just hold in your hand if you are stronger and meaner. Honour derives from your actions.
Okay children – this was the lesson for today. Grots – go to the weapon smith. Tell her Theodum has send you and replace your dog slicer with a good cold iron short sword. You will need it if you want to hunt Decius for the Emerald Lodge.
And before you leave please let me know what you want to learn tomorrow. We could talk about bards, jesters or diplomats. The smile disappeared from Grots face and the other children also looked glum. Ah – you don’t want to hear about bards, jesters and diplomats. So maybe you want to hear about how a kingdom who did rise to power and ruled everyone around them – but the rule lasted less than a year as strive and infighting started and they crumbled back to ruins. Or do you want to hear about the might king who rose to power but his rule was cut short when he was run out of his own kingdom by his peasants. Or would you like the story about the kingdom that was formed by a simple ranger who had no more as 2 followers when he started and that did last for over fifty years until he died of old age.
The children smiled again – and so did Theodum. He was sure the children would be back tomorrow morning to listen to his stories. He still hadn’t decided if he should tell the story of the bard who’s song started the strive that led to the downfall or the jester who’s pranks at the court of the king had caused the peasants to revolt – or his favourite – the ranger who started with a small group of friends and united many larger fighting clans to rule as part of one of the longest lasting times of peace here in the River Kingdoms that Theodum was aware of.
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Goblin Squad Member
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Thod nailed a notice to the door of the Inn.
The Emerald Lodge hereby takes away the rights of Decius Brutus to use the vaults of our bank as well as to enter our settlement. Until further notice he isn’t welcome in any area closer as half a mile away from Emerald Lodge. Any member of the Emerald Lodge or any visitor to us is allowed to kill Decius should he be seen inside this radius. We will offer a reward of one engraved masterwork Dwarven Steel Longsword for anyone sending him to Pharasma’s shrine.
We will update this notice once it has expired.
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Goblin Squad Member
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A raven lands on Theodum's shoulder, it carries a scroll of parchment in its talons. The bird drops the parchment and flys away. A ghostly voice emits from the paper. " What would you consider proof of the bounties fulfillment? You may speak your response and we will hear it." The parchment falls silent, the only mark on it is a blood red hand.
* who says RP can't be fun?*
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Goblin Squad Member
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Theodum looks at the parchment and the sending spell contained in it.
For this I would invoke the second of the River Kingdom Freedoms. The word of a man or woman I trust is enough - an oath that he or she has done the deed for anyone else.
Oathbreakers Die
Making an oath is a huge deal for the people of the River Kingdom (where trust is hard to come by, and earned in blood), and this freedom grants the people of the kingdoms leave to persecute anyone person that breaks an oath. Riverfolk who take on oaths usually keep them, or die trying.
This freedom can have some constricting side effects on traders and businessmen, who are loath to make strict commitments or promises.
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Goblin Squad Member
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The crowd at the Spire’s Retreat was quiet tonight. She ought to play something cheerful, get people singing. Or dancing, that usually lightened the mood. But sometimes not even the social butterfly felt happy. She took a deep breath, and stepped onto the little corner stage.
“So, now’s the time I usually cheer you up. It’s what I do. I can’t swing a sword or shoot a bow like most of you. I’m all thumbs at making things, and when I try to use my Sunstorm family gift I’m as likely to hit you as I am anything else. I’m good with words, and that’s about it.
“Well, that and dirt naps. And running, there’s that too.”
She took a practiced pause to let the ripple of laughter – subdued, of course, but there – die down.
“Life’s tough here, and dangerous, and mostly, I try to make people happy. Songs are good for that. But there’s a darker side to being a bard, and I think it’s about time I remembered that. So…
A Homespun Ditty
Come and listen to my story
‘Bout Bellows McGurk.
Fought ogres near home,
And he slept in the dirt.
As he came back
He was startled to see
“That Decius Brutus was stealing from me!”
Theft, that is. Stealing. Corpse loot.
And then Theodum tried
To be a diplomat.
Phaeros wrote back and cared not a whit.
Said “That’s what happens when you leave a husk,”
So the Lodge has banned the thief
‘Cause he’s been a bad guest.
Stole from us. On our land. From the dead.
Well, now it’s time to say goodbye
To Decius and his kind.
And we would like to thank you, sir,
To keep this song in mind.
You’re not invited back again to bank and trade with us
Until we’re satisfied that you are worthy of our trust.
Honour, that is. Courtesy. A gentleman.
Y’all can do that, y’hear?