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There's been no shortage of horrors committed by men what thought they had one o' the gods on their side.

I know, Hyde agrees quietly (For him, anyway), I done alot of 'em. Following the Law of Alleborg. That's why some there call me "Heartless," yeahh. I been doing the Law's dirty work for years, and then I find out some of them making the laws are banding with Goblins to kill farmas, and now laying coin down to kill us. Maybe some of them heads I chopped didn't deserve that fate, hah? Maybe they was just in somebody's way, maybe that was just a convenient way to get rid of them? Just paint 'em black in court and throw 'em on the block. And call on Hyde. He don't ask no questions. He just obeys the Law.

I gotta learn the truth of it. I need to know if some of them condemned are dead because I just follow ordas. And I need to make it right. The Half-Orc again turns to Jobin. I'm sorry if I caused a big mess, it happens wherever I go. But I ain't gonna let no more of my good pals die 'cuz I kept my eyes closed to some hard facts. I ain't leaving Angus, no, if he leaves, I go with him. He's saved my hash and I saved his, and will again. I trust him without thought. I pulled a fast one, and maybe he won't trust me so much now, but I still trust him, yeahh. I caused this, I take the blame, so you put your hand on me, see if you trust me. And if you do, trust Angus, too, and the rest of us. We came here to help because you asked. There be alot of Orcs out there that need killin'.

Arnulf just stands there waiting with a sullen, distant look on his face.

Zhym wrote:"Passing our bona fides?" echoes Angus. "I don't recall giving my say-so to showing you mine if you show me yours. My bona fides are gonna stay in right here in my pants where they belong."

"I apologize for what Yenny done," he tells Jobin. "But I had no part in that. Y'all what talk to your gods every morning may have a different way of saying howdy than most of us, but I ain't having anyone checking my 'sword' without a nice dinner and getting to know each other first. So you can just keep that bad touch to yourself."

"I came here to offer you my help. Sorry if it ain't the kind of help you were hoping for. But y'all are in a hell of a fix. Me, if I was getting starved out of my own home by a bunch of orcs, I'd welcome every new friend I could get instead of treating 'em like spies. But it's your fort. Don't want my help? Say the word and I'll be on my merry. But you gotta decide whether you want it without feeling up my 'bona fides.'"

Jobin's jaw sets. "I was answering your questions. YOU used magical means first to discern our true intentions. As a show of good faith, we submitted, even though this act raised offense. In return, I only expect you to return us the same courtesy. After all, I have hundreds of souls to answer to. If you will not, I shall take it as a signal that Alleborg wishes to engage us only as paternalists. We are not interested in such an arrangement."

He waves away the excuses offered by Hyde and Yenny. "If your team is incapable of coordinating how to approach non-aggressors, I have serious concerns about your utility as allies on the battlefield. Would you all just go your separate ways?" He breathes deeply and returns Angus' gaze. "You have but a few heartbeats to decide. Leave if you must. But if our trust is not returned in equal measure, your questions will fall upon deaf ears within this fortress."

"Yeah, Yenny and Hyde pissed in your porridge," retorts Angus. "Don't mean you gotta crap in our cornflakes to make us even. You want to take offense at what Yenny done, that's your right. I sure as hell would. You got laws here against that sort of thing, we'll face your justice. You want to keep us in this upholstered prison cell while we're here, I for one ain't got no complaints. But you ain't got any right to go poking in my head. It was wrong when Yenny done it and it's wrong when you do it."

"Guess I'll have to be taking my leave of you," he says with a sigh. He laughs bitterly. "You know what's a kicker? I was the one all het up on getting out here to help you. I won't say who, but some of these folks made fun of me for being all in a rush to come out here. Told me we not might not get a great reception. Guess they was right. Turns out you're just too damn ornery of a cuss to accept an apology or help."

He walks up to Hyde and places a hand on his shoulder. "That was a mighty kind thing you said about me. I'm honored and humbled. You're a good person, Hyde, and your heart's in the right place, no matter what you done in the past. Looks like we're heading back to Alleborg. Might be just as well. We should get Arnulf back to his master to see if he can get his mojo back." He turns to the others. "Sorry, y'all. I thought a plea for help meant they'd accept it. Stupid me. Y'all can stay here if you want, or come back with Hyde and me to Alleborg."

He glances back at Jobin. "I'll make sure the bosses of Alleborg know about the reception we got here. Best of luck to you. I mean that sincerely—I don't like to see any people massacred just because their leader's a damn fool."

"Now can I leave on my own, or do you gotta escort me?"

Hellebore shakes her head, looking sadly at Jobin. "You chose poorly, ignoring me utterly and engaging in this way instead."

She releases her hold on Qatkir, letting him growl, and turns away. She quietly packs her things, speaking instead to Angus and Hyde, not lowering her voice as the soldiers remain around them. "He is incapable of apology, or of honor, Angus. He murdered my sister, returning her body with throat slit and no other Wounds upon her. In return, we saved his people when he could not. All I asked was that I could carry his condolences to my grieving mother, you remember? Instead he offered justification and blame. This isn't forgotten. I offered him trust and left the ghost-children in his care with his Oath that we could return to see his good Faith, and we return to find him faithless and us constrained. You offer apology, he blames us and Alleborg and everything but himself. No spell shows his character - that is proven by his actions. You are right. They don't need allies. They will live and die on pride alone."

As Yenny grabs her things she says, "I made a promise that I intend to keep, and I can only keep it if I leave with these folks. Jobin--good luck to you and yours and may the blessing of Veles keep you safe."

As the others prepare to depart, Hyde looks slowly and sadly up to Jobin, more than a foot taller. I made a mistake, yeahh, I know it, trying to keep my good pals safe. Now you be making the same mistake, for the same reason. I understand that. Now you can't trust us, and we can't trust Alleborg, and Alleborg don't trust you. Nasty circle, hah? Means them Orcs can pick us off one at a time. Like them Assassins wanna do with our tribe. Angus, he be a Rainja, yeahh, a mighty Orc killa. He be as at home in this wood as Hellebore and Tempus, and he's the best chance any of us have against them Orcs.

He sighs heavily and strides to Sucks and pulls a heavy bag of silver coins. Something I'll never understand about you full-bloods, your pride. Me, I got Orc blood in me, guess that means I don't suffer from too much pride, hah? We know you be running low on supplies, take this here, maybe re-equip. Maybe you make it a while longa. Take care of them palefaces, hah?

The Half-Orc turns back to his friends, then stops. Them Orcs, they won't kill the palefaces, no, they just return 'em to the slave pits. Lotta yous be winding up there, too. Them of ya they don't kill. I'm sorry for that, yeahh, really really sorry. Funny thing, the thought that we was willing to die with you, hah? Approaching his team, eyes low, he says: Yous can all hit me later for the silva, if ya want.

Angus double-checks the straps on Beelzebub's saddle bags, then turns to face Jobin one last time. "I got three more things to say before we go," he says firmly.

"First, and I reckon this ain't gonna take, but I sincerely apologize for what Yenny done. It ain't right to go poking into people's hearts and minds, especially not without their say so. It's an affront to a man's dignity and privacy. We got more in common than we got disagreements, you and us. We ought to be helping each other. Yenny's spell is part of the reason we ain't. We're all worse off than we would've been had she not cast that cussed spell. For that, I am truly sorry."

"Second, even though we ain't friends or even allies, we still got common goals where them orcs are concerned. You ain't got reason to trust us, but every orc we take down is an orc that ain't killing or enslaving you and yours. You had a thought a moment ago about how a small group like ours might go against all them orcs. I know you said you weren't answering any questions, and I don't expect you to. But anything you can tell us that would help us kill them orcs helps you too."

He turns back to Beelzebub and pats him on the neck—perhaps realizing that his mule is a gentle and compliant softie compared to some leaders. "Finally, a word of warning," he says over his shoulder. "Hyde wasn't lying when he said there's people in Alleborg out to get us. Someone there was working with the goblins what we killed. Don't know who, ain't sure why—leastwise, I ain't got no notions I'm gonna share with people what ain't my friends—but someone in Alleborg is a traitor. Probably working with the orcs, too. So if y'all do hear back from Alleborg, be careful. Them what seem to be your friends might not be. 'Course, I ain't got to tell you to be paranoid, do I?"

Hellebore places a hand gently on Hyde's arm as he goes to the mule. "They can't eat silver, Hyde. Who will they buy from? Don't worry... I will still grow them food as we leave if we may." She steps back and drops her hand.

Tempus shakes out his long blonde dreadlocks and rolls his eyes. He gives this Jobin a shrug of exasperation and moves with fluffy to follow his companions.

"Humans" he mutters with a deep sigh.

Zhym wrote:"Yeah, Yenny and Hyde pissed in your porridge," retorts Angus. "Don't mean you gotta crap in our cornflakes to make us even. You want to take offense at what Yenny done, that's your right. I sure as hell would. You got laws here against that sort of thing, we'll face your justice. You want to keep us in this upholstered prison cell while we're here, I for one ain't got no complaints. But you ain't got any right to go poking in my head. It was wrong when Yenny done it and it's wrong when you do it."

He glances back at Jobin. "I'll make sure the bosses of Alleborg know about the reception we got here. Best of luck to you. I mean that sincerely—I don't like to see any people massacred just because their leader's a damn fool."

"Now can I leave on my own, or do you gotta escort me?"

"I have no interest in interning any of you. This is a simple matter of trust. We complied, and you did not." He ignores the damn fool jibe, or at least doesn't outwardly react to it. "You are free to leave at any time."

Marullus wrote:Hellebore shakes her head, looking sadly at Jobin. "You chose poorly, ignoring me utterly and engaging in this way instead."

She releases her hold on Qatkir, letting him growl, and turns away. She quietly packs her things, speaking instead to Angus and Hyde, not lowering her voice as the soldiers remain around them. "He is incapable of apology, or of honor, Angus. He murdered my sister, returning her body with throat slit and no other Wounds upon her. In return, we saved his people when he could not. All I asked was that I could carry his condolences to my grieving mother, you remember? Instead he offered justification and blame. This isn't forgotten. I offered him trust and left the ghost-children in his care with his Oath that we could return to see his good Faith, and we return to find him faithless and us constrained. You offer apology, he blames us and Alleborg and everything but himself. No spell shows his character - that is proven by his actions. You are right. They don't need allies. They will live and die on pride alone."

Jobin's face reddens, and his guards murmur with protest. "You cannot accurately recount the events of ten minutes ago, and so it does not surprise me that many weeks tarnish your...memory. Of course, your own people admit they attacked our outpost. And two of ours died. It was most unfortunate your sister died, but the rashness of that party is to blame, not my men and women. And you were not even there. It was an arrow wound, by the bye, and not a slit throat."

He takes a moment to collect himself. "As for your questions, you'll recall I was in the process of answering them when your group decided to divine our true intentions. I did give you my word you could check on those you freed. If you wish to do so, I will bring some of them to you. I honor my word."

tkrexx wrote:As the others prepare to depart, Hyde looks slowly and sadly up to Jobin, more than a foot taller. I made a mistake, yeahh, I know it, trying to keep my good pals safe. Now you be making the same mistake, for the same reason. I understand that. Now you can't trust us, and we can't trust Alleborg, and Alleborg don't trust you. Nasty circle, hah? Means them Orcs can pick us off one at a time. Like them Assassins wanna do with our tribe. Angus, he be a Rainja, yeahh, a mighty Orc killa. He be as at home in this wood as Hellebore and Tempus, and he's the best chance any of us have against them Orcs.

"We may still have trust enough to eliminate a common enemy."

tkrexx wrote:He (Hyde) sighs heavily and strides to Sucks and pulls a heavy bag of silver coins. Something I'll never understand about you full-bloods, your pride. Me, I got Orc blood in me, guess that means I don't suffer from too much pride, hah? We know you be running low on supplies, take this here, maybe re-equip. Maybe you make it a while longa. Take care of them palefaces, hah?

As Hyde begins to retrieve silver from the horse, Jobin holds up a hand to stop him. "I do appreciate the gesture, Hyde, but your sharp-tongued halfling friend is correct. We can do little with silver. We do not need precious metals. They will only serve to slow us down if we need to flee.

And we too have among us those that commune with nature and harness her powers. But they can only increase our foodstuffs so much. We have too many mouths and not enough land within our walls."

Zhym wrote:
"First, and I reckon this ain't gonna take, but I sincerely apologize for what Yenny done. It ain't right to go poking into people's hearts and minds, especially not without their say so. It's an affront to a man's dignity and privacy. We got more in common than we got disagreements, you and us. We ought to be helping each other. Yenny's spell is part of the reason we ain't. We're all worse off than we would've been had she not cast that cussed spell. For that, I am truly sorry."

"Yes, this morning's events are a shame. But what's done is done. We still have common cause. But to open those doors into our fortress requires iron-clad trust. I did not see that returned. Perhaps one day you will be a leader. Responsible for the very life and death of hundreds. Or perhaps not. Only then will you understand the responsibility on my shoulders."

Zhym wrote:"Second, even though we ain't friends or even allies, we still got common goals where them orcs are concerned. You ain't got reason to trust us, but every orc we take down is an orc that ain't killing or enslaving you and yours. You had a thought a moment ago about how a small group like ours might go against all them orcs. I know you said you weren't answering any questions, and I don't expect you to. But anything you can tell us that would help us kill them orcs helps you too."

"The orc parties now number over a dozen. And they often have more than just fighting orcs. Shamans, mounts, other accompaniments. You should be careful. The town you mentioned earlier. If the orcs fear it, it should be a good place to gather yourselves if you need to avoid them. Especially if you removed the carnivorous bats."

He looks at everyone in turn. "As for the city itself. We know how it appears from above. Hundreds of orcs live behind walls not unlike ours. Probably built by humans. But they live underground, mostly. So a true count is impossible to get. But, it is too many for us alone, and you will certainly meet your end if you stroll up to the walls to meet them head-on. Those manning the walls have bows, and they shoot at everything."

Zhym wrote:He turns back to Beelzebub and pats him on the neck—perhaps realizing that his mule is a gentle and compliant softie compared to some leaders. "Finally, a word of warning," he says over his shoulder. "Hyde wasn't lying when he said there's people in Alleborg out to get us. Someone there was working with the goblins what we killed. Don't know who, ain't sure why—leastwise, I ain't got no notions I'm gonna share with people what ain't my friends—but someone in Alleborg is a traitor. Probably working with the orcs, too. So if y'all do hear back from Alleborg, be careful. Them what seem to be your friends might not be. 'Course, I ain't got to tell you to be paranoid, do I?"

"Our people have very good reason not to trust Alleborg and those that wield power there. You seem to forget that you yourselves hail from there." He chuckles. "Surprising, then, that you tell me to be careful of emissaries from Alleborg, yet you object to me treating you with such care. I will tell you I had no intention of divining your true intentions unless you acted suspiciously. Divining ours raises suspicion, don't you think? So, I followed your own advice and you seem bent out of shape about it.

"I'm not surprised that someone within Alleborg was aiding its enemies. It is probably the same faction that ripped the kingdom asunder in the first place many years ago. But, as you so adeptly put it, it's not wise to share such speculations with those you don't trust as friends."

He looks, well, sad as he prepares to leave. "Guards, allow them to stay in peace here as long as they desire. Keep the fires stoked for their warmth. And if our halfling friend wishes to check on the health of the captors they returned, fetch Leylana to bring some of their number. Their lessons do not commence until later."

"Farewell" says Jobin, and he and his escort turn, planning to head back into the heart of the fortress.

Date: 19 Hewing, Year 42
Time: 07:20
Conditions: 32F, light fog, SSE breeze at 5 mph, 6 inches of snow on the ground
Known Spells in Effect:
Light bearers: Sunrise
Intended Direction of Travel:
Injury Status: none

Dandelion stands there, confused.

The fire is warm.

"I'm totally on their side here, we were completely out of order," the little ovate says shaking his head sadly.

"So are we going Orc hunting or not?"

Hellebore nods simply, her jaw set. "My mother will surely be comforted to know you remain incapable of remorse. Bring me the ghost-children and I will at least hold that promise kept."

AleBelly wrote:"We may still have trust enough to eliminate a common enemy."

Angus throws his hands into the air and turns back to Jobin. "Then what in the name of Queen Marcus's berry are we arguing for? Killing orcs is why we came here. We sure as shinguards didn't traipse all the way out to Sambord for the art museum, which I'm sure is renowned throughout the land, before you get all offended about that too."

"You talk about trust like it's something what's owed and can be paid with a spell," he continues in a soft voice. "It ain't. Only way to get it is to earn it, and there ain't no shortcuts. I trust these folks with my life 'cause we fought and bled together and in between times we talked. I trust 'em cause I know 'em. I don't trust you yet, no matter what Yenny's spell told her, because I don't know you. Ain't no spell can tell whether a man's a sumbitch. Gotta learn that the slow way."

"You may not have much reason to trust me yet. But you got plenty of reason you should trust Arnulf, Hyde, Hellebore, and Yenny. For the love of all the gods! They rescued your people from slavery and worse! Dammit, man, if someone did that for mine, I'd be throwing them banquets, giving them the key to the fort, and introducing them to my daughters! A thing like that they did for you, and you think a spell is going to tell you something you don't already know? If you really think that, you are a damned fool. And I ain't even counting our delivering your message and coming out here looking to help in the list of reasons you might think about trusting us, though I ain't got much idea why, now that I think on it."

"And by the way," he goes on, "if you think that spell Yenny used is so offensive—and I happen to think it is, else we wouldn't be having this lovely chat together—why the devil do you ask your god to let you cast it? See, Yenny knew she'd be meeting you, so she asked her god for that spell special this morning. Either you did the exact same thing, in which case you ain't got cause to be all riled up because Yenny shot first—or you get that spell ready every day. Seems like you're wanting to have it both ways, acting all upset that Yenny used a spell you were ready to use anyway. Either the spell is a sensible way to measure a person—which I think it ain't, but I'll allow as there's them that disagree with me on that point—in which case you ain't got cause to be offended that someone used it, or the spell is an affront against all that's decent, in which case you got no cause to expect us to submit to it. Either we all get to be offended at the use of that spell, or none of us do."

Having worked himself into another righteous tirade, Angus pauses and takes a deep breath. His brows scrunch up and anyone able to read lips would see him silently counting to ten.

"I don't need to see the rest of your fort," he says more calmly. "And while it'd be awfully neighborly of you to tell us what happened in Town No Go, it ain't exactly on the top of my list of concerns either. But dammit, them orcs need killing, so if you're willing to work together on that without feeling up my danglies, let's get about it. Maybe them what did let themselves be probed could walk around your city, if your spell lets you trust them. I ain't got no problem living in this little holding area. I've slept in worse places."

AleBelly wrote:"Our people have very good reason not to trust Alleborg and those that wield power there. You seem to forget that you yourselves hail from there."

"Do I look like a city slicker to you?" Angus laughs. "Yeah, I got citizenship, I suppose, but that city ain't exactly home. And even if the rest of these folks are, there's being from Alleborg and being from Alleborg. Far as I know, we ain't an official delegation. Not yet, anyway."

"Speaking of which, even if we can agree to kill orcs together, and I hope we can, our first step really ought to be for us to head back to Alleborg anyway. Arnulf needs to talk to his wonderful wizard, and I guess we should go talk to the sumbitches who run that town before we start working with the sumbitch what runs this one. Maybe find out what happened to the folks we sent back with the other copy of your message. We can relay another message, if you want. It'd be mighty keen if you could ask nicely, though I don't expect it."

Yenny looks at Angus and then at Jobin. Her face runs through smiles, tears, a big grin and a frown. She runs up to Angus with her arms held wide, and seeing a somewhat confused response, grabs his waist in a big hug. She then turns to Jobin, "This is one smart cookie, nodding towards Angus, "And a good person. Let's see if we can't kill some orcs as a big, messed up, confused, group!"

Dandelion butts in with enthusiasm,

I think it would do us all good if we visited that art museum. Fine arts help encourage civic bonding.

"Oh for the love of the forest spirits Angus give it a bloody rest. Of course you would say and do all these things if you were trying to infiltrate this place cleverly. We cast the aura sight spell first. And then you got yer panties all caught in yer chocolate star fish and seem to think it's all this guys fault. Drop it already and let it go for the love of the gods!".

To Jobin the halfling steps forward. "I have nothing to hide, look into my heart if you wish to. The ranger isn't wrong, even if he has wheeled out the drama lama for a showing, about the spell being uncouth, but more than that I apologise on behalf of these people, who seem to be incapable of admitting they made a mistake, owning it, and letting it go. I for one will stay if you will have me, and help as I can to curtail this orcish menace". The little Druid scowls at the highly strung ranger hoping to silence him from any further precious outbursts.

Arnulf leans over to Tempus and lowers his voice.

"I've known Angus a long time. If you think scowling and rudely calling him out in front of his peers is going to stop him, you're wrong. He's smart, tough and good. Lay off."

He picks up his things.

"Well?"