StickFig Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 (edited) Matthias shakes his head, trying to get rid of the ringing in his ears from Beorn's last blow. "I had forgotten we were going to have to hold onto him...." Matthias jogs after Cinna towards the woodline, scanning the sky for birds he might be able to ask for help following the orc. Edited May 13, 2014 by nstickney
Cryos Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 Baradock remains atop the cart. His eyes hidden under the shadow of his brow as he watched most of the party chase after the prisoner. "Nnrgh." He grunted, They better be back soon. He thought to himself, looking from the wood to the fort and ultimately down the dirt trail.
Waterbrick Down Posted January 27, 2014 Author Posted January 27, 2014 QM Note: We have a brief pause, in order to come alongside another of the quests. I'll have a filler up tomorrow. A few of the heroes take off after Grishnod with Nelvyn leading the way. Matthias manages to intercept a starling and is able to get enough information as to the orc's general direction. After a while Matthias, Cinna, Purpearl, and Dreyrugr come upon the orc. "Lost already? I'd suggest you find yourself some shelter, as I'm sure the Fire Nords will be out looking for you."
Vash the Stampede Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 "You mean they won't be looking for you? As the prisoner who has escaped you're in much more danger. And the gratitude we got for saving you is astounding too."
Purpearljellyblob Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 "Lost already? I'd suggest you find yourself some shelter, as I'm sure the Fire Nords will be out looking for you." "Whereabouts are you heading, Orc friend? "Perhaps we should stay together. Wherever you are heading, we can help you to fend off undesirables, especially those Fire Nords who captured you. If they managed to imprison you once, I am sure they can do it again." "What say you, Orc friend? Safety in numbers?"
Waterbrick Down Posted January 27, 2014 Author Posted January 27, 2014 (edited) "Matters little to me, why you broke me out. You provided no explanation and you apparently were not from the clans. A group is easier to catch than a single individual, thus I will continue on my own to my home land." Meanwhile back at the wagon. "We'd best make after them, everybody load up." Edited January 27, 2014 by Waterbrick Down
Darkdragon Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 "You need to come with us, actually. I hope it won't be necessary to put the restraints on again."
Waterbrick Down Posted January 27, 2014 Author Posted January 27, 2014 The orc bares his teeth. "Restraints? So from one bondage to another is that it?"
Darkdragon Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 "We are trying to be civil here, nobody want's to restrain you forcibly. You need to come with us. I don't know why exactly, I'm only a hired grunt."
Waterbrick Down Posted January 27, 2014 Author Posted January 27, 2014 The orc slowly begins to remove his cloak. "And if I should choose not to?"
Purpearljellyblob Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 (edited) "Matters little to me, why you broke me out. You provided no explanation and you apparently were not from the clans. A group is easier to catch than a single individual, thus I will continue on my own to my home land." "That logic is incorrect, Orc. You were a Fire Nord prisoner and surely must have meant something to them. We were circus-peasants that they tried to raid and kill. So it is more likely they would be after you instead of us. Come with us, we broke you out, we fought off those Nords, we have done enough to prove that we are worthy. We can offer you protection and escort you to your home land." The orc slowly begins to remove his cloak. "And if I should choose not to?" "Five versus one, check your maths and get them right, my Orc friend. It's a lose win situation. Lose for you, win for us. Let's make it a win win situation shall we? Come with us, we protect you and nobody gets hurt." Edited January 27, 2014 by Purpearljellyblob
Waterbrick Down Posted January 27, 2014 Author Posted January 27, 2014 "You'd best get your story straight, one of you is talking about restraints, the other friendly companionship. You make it sound like our meeting was coincidence elf, while the armored one seems like you were hired for the job. Considering you seem more interested in retaining me than just seeing me free, I have to assume you have some ulterior motives of which you'd rather not mention. I was merely a trophy of a raid the Nord's had on our coastline, nothing more, nothing less, seems you may be wanting to make me some sort of trophy yourselves. I'm sure the Nords will be after us equally though, considering the number you left slaughtered in their fort. As I said, the bigger the group, the easier it will be to track us down. Besides, I have lived a child of the wastelands all my life, you all seem more at home in a tavern than the wilderness, I think I might have some advantage."
Purpearljellyblob Posted January 28, 2014 Posted January 28, 2014 (edited) "We infiltrated the Nord base easily, that means no one have tried to save you before or they would be extra vigilant. So it would be pretty reasonable to say your Orc friends didn't bother to save you themselves. Maybe you are not important?" "Think about it Orc. Why do you think we risk our lives to save you from those Nords? We ain't charity nor are we your kind. Of course we are hired to do the job. There are reasons why we cannot tell you who we work for. Obviously someone knows you are still alive and wanted us to save you. You wanted to go back to your home land, and it is also part of our job to do so. If by any chance the Fire Nords catch up to you, you ain't goin' to live, I can guarantee that. Your hands are stained with Fire Nord blood and you almost died back there. We do what's best for you and it's ideal if you come with us." Edited January 28, 2014 by Purpearljellyblob
Waterbrick Down Posted January 28, 2014 Author Posted January 28, 2014 "I prefer to choose my own company and I consider myself is plenty enough. Plus, seems like you still aren't telling me everything and nothing you've said has convinced me it's worth sticking around to find out. So again, I'll be saying no to traveling together and will take my chances on my own."
Vash the Stampede Posted January 28, 2014 Posted January 28, 2014 Darkdragon, I believe that this calls for diplomacy. I'll use my intimidation only as a last resort because it's hard to get back from that.
Darkdragon Posted January 28, 2014 Posted January 28, 2014 In the most diplomatic way possible, Cinna again addresses the orc. "I'm not sure what you think we aren't telling you. We don't have all the answers ourselves, we were hired to escort the circus and then they said we had to rescue you from that camp and that you needed to stay with us. Your best bet for answers would be to talk to Boris. We can all go rejoin the wagon and you can talk to him yourself."
Waterbrick Down Posted January 29, 2014 Author Posted January 29, 2014 (edited) The orc looks at the mystic knight for a long while, "Very well, I will listen to the reasoning of the magic user, though I think it is foolish to discuss this any further." The party is joined shortly by the rest of Mercutio's Smile as well as Baradock and Nagure. "Ah, you found our flighty friend." "Of course we did, thanks to the clever thinking of Miss Berthadiell." "Alright, Romeo." Grishnod steps forward to address Boris. "The armored mage, tells me you were hired to break me free from that outpost. You have a limited amount of time to explain why, before I take my leave." The magician seems a little flustered at the orc's brashness but answers, "Ah, yes. Well you see my dear chap, our most excellent services have been acquired by individuals of a most lofty and ideal nature in order to perform a little under the table political negotiating of sorts. In a round about way..." "To the point magic man." "Oh blast it! Your clan captured King Valentino of the Red Lizard Kingdom a while back. We busted you out so we could take you back to Baltarok to exchange his life for yours. You make any wrong moves on the way there and one of these mages will roast you like fried Aepyornis!" "Thank you Glup." "So it is from one captivity into another. Well as I do not intend on dying anytime soon, it appears I have no choice but to comply with your demands. Though my honor does bid me inform you that should I ever see chance to achieve my freedom, I will take regardless of any kindness showed now or in the interim of our journey. I take it you mean to make for the bridge?" "Of course and we'd best get going too, we'll soon enough have Four Boulder patrols as well as Fire Nords to watch out for." The group loads into the wagon as Borris stirs the draft horses into action, Cinna and Grishnod sitting behind him. "Shouldn't be too long of a trip assuming we don't run into any trouble. No clue on the state of construction on the bridge though, we may have to get across the river by ferry. Sorry we all had to start off on the wrong foot with all the misunderstandings and all." Glup turns to Matthias and Baradock, "That was quite a bit of shooting and smashing back there at the fort, seems you two have seen quite a bit of action before." Nelvyn pulls up a barrel and sits next to Purpearl, "Well glad, Boris and green and grumpy were able to straighten all that out. Can't say all this behind the scenes and sneaking around is what I'm used to, but I suppose enjoyment of a circumstance is based solely upon the ones one finds themselves with. So you are an elf, I am... was an elf." Nagure and Dreyrugr find themselves next to Mirona, "Can't say, you two don't look out of place. Not everyday, you see a vampire out and about in the sun, nor a Yeti far away from a mountain top." QM Note: Feel free to roleplay with any of the NPC or amongst yourself on the journey to the bridge, we're now just in a holding pattern for another quest. Edited January 29, 2014 by Waterbrick Down
Vash the Stampede Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 "Can't say, you two don't look out of place. Not everyday, you see a vampire out and about in the sun, nor a Yeti far away from a mountain top." "It's proven more useful to me to find myself in use during daylight hours rather than only being able to do things during the night. I could return the gesture and say it's not all the time you find a circus full of largely varying performers like yourselfves."
Purpearljellyblob Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 "Of course we did, thanks to the clever thinking of Miss Berthadiell." "Alright, Romeo." "Always making me blush... hmm?" Nelvyn pulls up a barrel and sits next to Purpearl, "Well glad, Boris and green and grumpy were able to straighten all that out. Can't say all this behind the scenes and sneaking around is what I'm used to, but I suppose enjoyment of a circumstance is based solely upon the ones one finds themselves with. So you are an elf, I am... was an elf." "Yes. I can imagine a whole clan full of grumpy green heads like him. Disastrous. I really wonder what they find enjoyment in; killing, grunting or who's the sulkiest of them all. I really wonder. Never quite seen them in my life. Look at those Fire Nords, they care for treasures and spoils of war that are temporary, but deep down, their souls are empty. They raid to quench their soul's thirst for satisfaction, but their souls yearn for something other than treasures, something more permanent. Food, drinks and treasures don't last forever. Food and drinks serve as sustenance, they ultimately return to nature where they come from. Treasures are worthy only to the eyes of the beholder. Raiding would not help them sustain a civilisation. What they need is probably love, which is permanent and transcends time, which they lack. Their concept of "love", is selfish and brutal pleasure, which is self consuming and destroys oneself. Love is something that is selfless and giving and it builds on one another. It is something that progresses a civilisation, a race and improves an individual as a person. Having lived through close to two hundred years, those reckless ways of the Fire Nords will not persist through time. Either they finally settle into a civilisation or as a civilisation or wiped out by more advanced magic, weapons, or crumble within themselves. Same goes for those green heads, I wonder if they ever smile, or enjoy what nature has blessed them with." "How about you, my fellow elf? You speak of making the best of situations. Care to share with me what you used to enjoy and what made you transform into this form you are in now? Are you what they call an undead? Even that, you are still an elf, deep down, no matter what form. By the way, whatever you see that I am, is not what it seems to be. I may look like an elf, carry an elven name, but I am raised by the hands of humans and know nothing of the ways of an elf. The little knowledge of my biological parents and where they came from, written in a piece of rotten paper, isn't enough to make me a true elf, if you get what I mean."
StickFig Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 (edited) "Oh blast it! Your clan captured King Valentino of the Red Lizard Kingdom a while back. We busted you out so we could take you back to Baltarok to exchange his life for yours. You make any wrong moves on the way there and one of these mages will roast you like fried Aepyornis!" ... "That was quite a bit of shooting and smashing back there at the fort, seems you two have seen quite a bit of action before." Matthias listens to Boris' argument with the orc with interest, getting more and more agitated until Glup's outburst. When the grumpkin addresses him and the club-wielding barbarian, the mini-man laughs deeply. "I'm no veteran, that's certain," he confides to Glup. "That's why I didn't tell Grishnod what you did earlier - I'm glad you finally did - but I didn't want to overstep my bounds with the real heroes. I'm just enjoying seeing more of the world than I ever thought I would." Edited May 13, 2014 by nstickney
Waterbrick Down Posted January 29, 2014 Author Posted January 29, 2014 "It's proven more useful to me to find myself in use during daylight hours rather than only being able to do things during the night. I could return the gesture and say it's not all the time you find a circus full of largely varying performers like yourselfves." "Ah, the circus is the variable melting pot of talent as well as races, somewhat like your organization from what I've heard about it. Mercutio's Smile has long been a home to the down and out performer, the odd recluse, or the bordering on insane genius who has the gift of gab. The troupe spans back nigh no fifty years, though none of the original members are still around. I've been with 'em for about 10 years now, met up with them in Duplovia." "Yes. I can imagine a whole clan full of grumpy green heads like him. Disastrous. I really wonder what they find enjoyment in; killing, grunting or who's the sulkiest of them all. I really wonder. Never quite seen them in my life. Look at those Fire Nords, they care for treasures and spoils of war that are temporary, but deep down, their souls are empty. They raid to quench their soul's thirst for satisfaction, but their souls yearn for something other than treasures, something more permanent. Food, drinks and treasures don't last forever. Food and drinks serve as sustenance, they ultimately return to nature where they come from. Treasures are worthy only to the eyes of the beholder. Raiding would not help them sustain a civilisation. What they need is probably love, which is permanent and transcends time, which they lack. Their concept of "love", is selfish and brutal pleasure, which is self consuming and destroys oneself. Love is something that is selfless and giving and it builds on one another. It is something that progresses a civilisation, a race and improves an individual as a person. Having lived through close to two hundred years, those reckless ways of the Fire Nords will not persist through time. Either they finally settle into a civilisation or as a civilisation or wiped out by more advanced magic, weapons, or crumble within themselves. Same goes for those green heads, I wonder if they ever smile, or enjoy what nature has blessed them with." "How about you, my fellow elf? You speak of making the best of situations. Care to share with me what you used to enjoy and what made you transform into this form you are in now? Are you what they call an undead? Even that, you are still an elf, deep down, no matter what form. By the way, whatever you see that I am, is not what it seems to be. I may look like an elf, carry an elven name, but I am raised by the hands of humans and know nothing of the ways of an elf. The little knowledge of my biological parents and where they came from, written in a piece of rotten paper, isn't enough to make me a true elf, if you get what I mean." "That was one of the most beautiful descriptions of love that has ever graced my ears. Even if you may have been raised among humans, you have learned to observe the ways of the world and the hearts of mortals just like your fellow kindred." Nelyvn paused at the question regarding his past "Where to begin, well 350 years ago I was once considered the greatest contortionist and acrobat upon the whole Crystaline sea. Still am if you ask anyone in the troupe. Those were such glorious days, the applause, the autographs, the fan-mail and then it happened. I should have known the day would come when I'd push myself to far. My greatest stunt yet, walking across a tightrope stretched across the entirety of Draida Bay during a hurricane! I'd made it easily half way across that fateful day when I came to the stunning realization that I had no clue how to swim. Never in my entire career had I waded through anything greater than waist deep. I panicked, I scrambled, and the next thing you know, splash into the drink. Didn't take too long till I was swimming with the proverbial fishes. And there is where I stayed for nigh on 300 years all corpsified on the bottom of the bay. Then out out of the blue one day, my eyes snap open, I start spurting out water and find myself on the shore, with a vacationing family of necromancers smiling down at me. We chatted for a while, find out they were on Holiday and were treating the kiddos to some fun when they came upon the grand idea of raising the famed Nelvyn the magnificent from the bottom of the bay. I thanked them kindly, put on a rather miserable show, being a little rusty and sorts, and then bid them good day. I wandered from there for another 45 years trying my luck at performing in villages and such, but I met with torches and pitchforks for the most part, on account of the whole undead thing. About 5 years back or so I finally came across the Mercutio's Smile and they've been my family ever since. Since then, I've learned it ain't so much the card's you've been handed in life, so much as how you choose to play with them." Matthias listens to Boris' argument with the orc with interest, getting more and more agitated until Glup's outburst. When the grumpkin addresses him and the club-wielding barbarian, the mini-man laughs deeply. "I'm no veteran, that's certain," he confides to Glup. "That's why I didn't tell Grishnod what you did earlier - I'm glad you finally did - but I didn't want to overstep my bounds with the real heroes. I'm just enjoying seeing more of the world than I ever thought I would." "Ah, an adventurer then as compared to a warrior. Nothing is like the adrenaline of something new, something dangerous, something untried, something uncharted or unattempted! If you ask me, there's nothing more perfect for someone like yourself than the circus. Traveling from place to place, meeting new folks, seeing the wonders of the world that most people only dream of."
StickFig Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 (edited) "Ah, an adventurer then as compared to a warrior... If you ask me, there's nothing more perfect for someone like yourself than the circus. " "I can see the allure of continually travelling, but I think most gnomes would agree with me that there's also something to be said for a place to call home, something solid and earthy. I'm a long way from where I once considered home, but out here I still know that my room at Heroica Hall will be waiting for me each time my wandering mood is spent. In any case, as proved at the Fire Nord camp, I'm not much of a performer." Matthias shakes his head and laughs. "No, I'm not the circus type, just a gnome with a crossbow and a desire to see better views than what you get standing behind a barber's chair." Edited May 13, 2014 by nstickney
Cryos Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 snip! Baradock raised his brow at the more vertically challenged of the group, "An honorable cause if there ever was one. In war time I often sleep beneath rain on strange roof, thinking of home.” Baradock looked down the path eyeing the patches of snow kissed grass outlining the trail, rubbing his hands together. "Home never cold like this. I do not like it."
StickFig Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 (edited) "An honorable cause if there ever was one. In war time I often sleep beneath rain on strange roof, thinking of home... Home never cold like this. I do not like it." "My big friend, there is no place like home. No warmth like home. Orrik forged much beauty in this world, mountains and oceans, tall fir trees and even empty deserts, things I've only heard of and never seen. But there is no such comfort as home." The tiny gnome stared up at Baradock and Glup, reminding himself inside that seeing the world was his dream... thinking of home was beginning to get to him. "Glup, what's the most beautiful place you've seen? Or you, Baradock the Barbarian? You've surely seen many things." Edited May 13, 2014 by nstickney
Waterbrick Down Posted January 30, 2014 Author Posted January 30, 2014 "I can see the allure of continually travelling, but I think most gnomes would agree with me that there's also something to be said for a place to call home, something solid and earthy. I'm a long way from where I once considered home, but out here I still know that my room at Heroica Hall will be waiting for me each time my wandering mood is spent. In any case, as proved at the Fire Nord camp, I'm not much of a performer." Matthias shakes his head and laughs. "No, I'm not the circus type, just a gnome with a crossbow and a desire to see better views than what you get standing behind a barber's chair." "Well stick with us, and I'm sure you'll get your fill of sights to be seen." "My big friend, there is no place like home. No warmth like home. Orrik forged much beauty in this world, mountains and oceans, tall fir trees and even empty deserts, things I've only heard of and never seen. But there is no such comfort as home." The tiny gnome stared up at Baradock and Glup, reminding himself inside that seeing the world was his dream... thinking of home was beginning to get to him. "Glup, what's the most beautiful place you've seen? Or you, Baradock the Barbarian? You've surely seen many things." "Most definitely the first time I witnessed sky flowers."
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