archolewa wrote: ↑Mon Jun 02, 2025 3:47 pmLawrence frowns. He sighs and shakes his head, his voice rueful. "Someday you're gonna make my life easier Jalko. Mark my words. Alright, alright. Your mother'll have my head if she finds out I let you sleep outside the village. I'll spread the word with the others."
"The day I start making your life easier, you can bury me six feet under" - Jalko smiled again, though he seemed worried - "You should go take a look at the group first..." - he suggested, looking at Corvin, Astrid, Sebastian and Kasper.
archolewa wrote: ↑Mon Jun 02, 2025 3:47 pmLawrence gives Jalko a concerned look. "You should go see her Jalko. You know she's getting on in years. Stubborn goat of a woman hasn't given up yet, but she hasn't been doing great since you got taken. It'll do her good to see her son. Burn it, she'll probably hop out of bed and dance a jig, knowing her."
"I am going to check on her" - the halfling grunted - "As soon as we are sorted here" - he added, seemingly not too eager to re-encounter his Mother..?
Lawrence nods. "Aye, that's fine. Well, let's go meet your... new friends then. Sooner we get you and your Mother out of the way, the better. Heh. Hey, Hellen! Come with me, Jalko and his new buddies got something he needs to show us."
Hellen looks over from her conversation with Corvin and Astrid, and flashes a thumbs up.
"If they want to stay outside after the meet, that is fine" - Jalko nodded - "But I want things in the open, so we do not risk any 'misunderstandings' during the night"
Astrid nods to the two, and gives a small, tight smile.
Sebastian grins and shakes their hands as the group steps beyond the village. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm from Diana's village, not quite a day north/northwest of here."
"Oh, Diana!" says Hellen. "I know her. She was the most Blooded person in my century during my first tour. We called her the pants-kicker, because she was always the one given the Trained a kick in the pants."
Sebastian chuckles. "Yes. She's definitely a master pants kicker. Her son had been kidnapped by the same people who took Jalko. They should be reuniting, right about now I think."
Lawrence smiles. "Sounds like you all did more than just get our Jalko out of whatever trouble he found himself in. Glad to hear the next generation's fighting just as hard as all the previous."
The group stops once they're out of immediate earshot from the village, but close enough that a shout could be clearly heard.
Kasper shakes their hands. "A pleasure to meet you. I am a cleric of the Weeping Eye. The people you are about to meet got trapped on the wrong side of the Wall when it went up. They've lived a hard, unfair, brutal life--"
Lawrence snorts. "Haven't we all."
"Yes, but far more so," says Kasper without missing a beat. "It has had some...effects on them. But please, remember they are Free Peoples at heart. They helped safeguard Jalko and the others we rescued on our way back to the Refuge. Their leader, Jandley, in particular was instrumental in saving Jalko's life. Ho, Jandley, please come out."
archolewa wrote: ↑Tue Jun 03, 2025 2:48 pm
The group stops once they're out of immediate earshot from the village, but close enough that a shout could be clearly heard.
Kasper shakes their hands. "A pleasure to meet you. I am a cleric of the Weeping Eye. The people you are about to meet got trapped on the wrong side of the Wall when it went up. They've lived a hard, unfair, brutal life--"
Lawrence snorts. "Haven't we all."
"Yes, but far more so," says Kasper without missing a beat. "It has had some...effects on them. But please, remember they are Free Peoples at heart. They helped safeguard Jalko and the others we rescued on our way back to the Refuge. Their leader, Jandley, in particular was instrumental in saving Jalko's life. Ho, Jandley, please come out."
Nothing stirs.
"What a shock," says Astrid dryly.
"Jandley is concerned about people reactions to some of their group. We told them about the Order of the Clenched Fist and she is worried that someone might report them. All they want to do is live their lives in peace and bring up their children in safety. Jandley, this is Lawrence and Hellen, they are friends of Jalko."
A small figure emerges from the bushes. Lawrence and Hellen both tense. Hellen's hand twitches to her short sword, while Lawrence tightens his grip on his spear. However, Hellen does not draw her blade, nor does Lawrence lower his spear. Corvin recognizes the figure as Jandley.
"Burn it Corvin, what are you doing?" hisses Jandley. "What part of 'we'll wait out here' didn't you understand? Now they know about us!"
Corvin looks at Jandley "Sorry Jandley, it wasn't my idea. Jalko thought it best to make sure there wasn't any misunderstandings if someone spotted you out here."
Jandley glares at Jalko. "We've spent our lives hiding from ogres, satyrs, ghouls, troglodytes, orcs, goblins and things we don't have a name for. I think we can stay hidden from a couple of Refuge humans and halflings cowering behind their palisade. Really, I'd expect a halfling of all people to understand that."
"We're not cowering," says Lawrence angrily.
"Hey, no judgement. I'd kill for something to cower behind," says Jandley.
"I know it's not ideal, and everyone is a little on edge, but there's no need to be. We're not a danger to each other. Let's worry about what's out there." he gestures to the darkness in general (certainly not in the direction of where Jandley's people are).
Jandley sighs. "Well. In for a silver in for a gold."
She gestures for the others to come out. "Come on guys. Like it or not, we're committed."
A small figure slips from the shadows and clings to her leg. Jandley's son. The others, eighteen in total, slowly emerge, goblinoid features almost exaggerated in the darkness.
Wait.
Corvin only counts seventeen.
He doesn't see Grimm.
Jalko also only counts seventeen, and he also doesn't see Grimm.
Lawrence and Hellen both gasp. This time, Lawrence does point his spear at Jandley. "Goblins!"
He starts to raise his voice to call for help, but Hellen smothers his mouth.
"Stop." Her eyes are focused on the child clinging to Jandley's leg. "Never heard of goblin children."
Lawrence wrenches away from her hand, but doesn't shout. Yet.
Jandley scoffs. "That's because goblins don't have children. We ain't goblins. Not yet. Hopefully not ever, thanks to Corvin's team."
Astrid tenses, her own hand on the hilt of her sword, but she's watching the two villagers, not the halflings. "They aren't a threat. Leave them be."
"You're siding with them, a bunch of Outsiders, over the Refuge?" asks Lawrence, aghast.
"My friend died to bring them here, and I won't let his death be in vain," says Astrid grimly.
"Astrid, stop." says Sebastian, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Steel isn't the answer here."
Astrid's wary look doesn't leave Lawrence, or his spear. Nor does her hand leave the hilt of her sword.
Corvin tenses, ready to jump between Lawrence and Jandley if he makes an offensive move.
This would be to interpose himself between Lawrence and the halflings to intercept any attack (purely defensively), including taking any spear wound himself. Let's hope Jalko can talk Lawrence down.
archolewa wrote: ↑Tue Jun 03, 2025 4:19 pmLawrence turns his shock-turning-to-frightened-turning-to-angered gaze on Jalko. "Jalko, what in the Seer's name is wrong with you?"
"What is that supposed to mean?" - Jalko scowls - "Have you not heard what I told you?" - he added - "I have traveled side by side with these people after they were liberated from the Kinslayer she-demon who had a hold over them. They have shown me nothing else but companionship on the road - we have shared food, hunger, and huddled together in the dark" - he looked over Jandley's group - "It seems there is a lot we do not understand about the story of the world around us, which does not surprise me - those are just stories written on paper" - Jalko shrugged - "Doesn't matter, I am no historian - but now I have a first hand account of what I have been through, and what my experience with these folk has been, and a taste of how things are on the other side of the Wall. That should be enough for you"
"But like I said, if it is not" - he moves toward Jandley with a nod - "Just let them be for tonight. I will go say hi to my Mother, grab my things, and I will stay out here with them" - his jaw clenched - "We will be gone in the morning"
Lawrence considers for a moment, then shakes his head. "I'm sorry Jalko. I want to believe you, but I have the safety of the village to worry about. You have been who-knows-where for weeks. You say they were held by a demoness and were freed, though I note you've been silent about where you've been. Were you held by her too? Did you fight with her to free these people? Did she weave some sort of subtle magics around you that you aren't even aware of? Or maybe you've been forced to serve the Kinslayer's monsters and this is all a ruse. Even if nothing has happened to you, maybe they have been woven with such magics. I'll let them be, for your sake if nothing else, but I can't risk them coming inside the palisade."
Yes, I know Jalko isn't bluffing, but the Bluff skill is applicable when a PC is making assertions without hard evidence to back it up. Basically, when the only thing the recipient has to go on is "the PC's word."
