[Continued] - Valorei/Elves - 2 April, 1 VC

[Scott308]

Dorvar

The dwarf looks over at Nihilius as they walk. Not accustomed to lots of walking, I see. Don't worry, in a day or so you'll get used to it.

Two days rations deducted.

[OGRE MAGE]

Wendall notices the rookie mage having a bit of trouble as well.

Niles, let me give you a bit of advice about your fatigue and blisters. This is from my own experience and believe me, it works.

All you need to do is accidentally step up in battle. You know, maybe have a Lizardman throw a spear into your body, or let a giant dinosaur trample your head. Then one of these priests will cast a healing spell on you and all those little aches and pains will disappear.

It's happened to me more times than I care to recall, but it works every time I tell you. Of course, the permanent damage kinda sucks, but you feel a lot better in the meantime.

Wendall smirks a bit but he is really only half joking about his theroy.

[Scott308]

While Wendall may endorse that approach, I would not recommend it for others as there are drawbacks, not the least of which is possible death. I direct your attention to the dent in the boy's head. I'm sure I don't need to say any more, the dwarf says, attempting to hide a smile and failing.

[Marullus]

Nihilius flushes red with ire at Wendall's condescending demeanor, but holds his tongue as he regards the young mage.

He smiles ruefully at the dwarf, stretching his sore back muscles. "It is said that youth is wasted on the young... but there is much to be said for being old, powerful, and rich."

"Are we camping here? Or continuing on?"He asks.

[OGRE MAGE]

Wendall notices Niles frustration.

Relax friend. I didn't mean any offense by that. Your skin will grow thicker as the days pass, and I mean that physically and mentally. These jerks beat me up verbally for about the first month we were together and I handled it just fine.

I think we should continue on since we just woke up. Let's get moving!

Wendall looks to the others and rolls his eyes.

[AleBelly]

"Just like a halfling to consider eating and sleeping just after waking" chuckles Varas. He seems to welcome any chance at levity given the foreboding forest ahead.

[Dram]

Baxtaw- I do not wish to relive that expedition anymore. And I hope that we make a wide birth around them ruins.


2 days rations removed. How far are we away from the ruins.

[Marullus]

Nihilius rises, straightens his robe, and levels his gaze at Wendell. His voice is calm - the dead scary calm that spreads control over any emotion. "Wendell, I will say this once to you. You will never insult or abuse me, verbally or otherwise, ever again." He pauses, his cold stare daring the boy to speak before he continues. "You act as a child, a mannerless impudent child, who obviously never had the benefit of a mentor. If you are truly what wizarding has declined to in this land, then I am ashamed to see it - any proper magus, had they instructed you, would have corrected these failings in you long before now. You will treat me with respect, as I have treated you, and from this point onward cease to disgrace those of our Order."

He snaps his fingers, the wolfhound coming obediently to heel, and walks a short way Eastward before pausing to wait for the others.

[Zhym]

Harold chuckles and follows along.

[OGRE MAGE]

Wendall


Thats the SECOND time I've been referred to as an impudent child now and I'm getting a little sick of it. I couldn't do anything about it when the big wolf said it but if you think I'm putting up with that crap from you, you're sadly mistaken!

What did I say exactly that was a personal insult to you boy? If you can't take a little ribbing than I'd say adventuring with a group of others might not exactly be your forte.

I may not be all prim and proper like you and I know that I didn't exactly have the best mentors growing up.... IN AN ORPHANAGE....but that doesn't make you any better than me as far as I'm concerned.

Wendall looks to his longtime companions Varas and Dorvar to see their reaction to this newcomers strange behavior.

Its true that my maaaaagus wasn't the nicest person in the world, and he maybe he was a bit of a child molester, but he did teach me one thing that you should probably learn. Never, NEVER, piss off a wizard that is twice as powerful as you.

Perhaps it's you who has a few things to learn if you think acting like a pompus ass is going to get you very far out here. I didn't want to bring this up as I hoped to put it in the past and move on but.... he looks at Val and winks, hoping the elf also wants to keep the unfortunate incident with the Carkiss in the past. Im not afraid to use my powers on one of our own if I feel the need has arisen.

I truly would like to know how he actually "insulted" or "abused" you with what he said. Or was that just roleplay?

[AleBelly]

Varas rolls his eyes at this whole exchange, and he turns to address the aggrieved wizard. "Wizards have egos so delicate as to match their constitution. If I offended you by calling you a halfling, well, tough shit. We all like to give each other a ribbing out here. But when it comes down to it, we back each other up. Even when we argue" he looks at the elf, smiling. "And even when I'm grumpy. Egos stay in Vaul, friend."

[Scott308]

Dorvar scowls at the feuding children and hefts his axe for emphasis. Can we quit arguing among ourselves? It is dangerous enough out here without members of the group quarreling. If we cannot trust each other with our lives, we have no business being out here together. You call Wendall a child, yet you look to be younger than he is. Yes, Wendall can be obnoxious at times. Get used to it. He doesn't do it to you on purpose, it is just the way he is and he treats everyone that way. He has at least proven himself out in the wilds, whereas you have not yet. If you can't get along, you may doom us all. Know this, all of you- if someone is going to put the rest of us at unnecessary risk because they cannot get along with others, I have no problem killing them for the safety of the rest of us. That is not a threat, just a statement you should all heed. If anyone has a problem with continuing to travel with me, feel free to head back to Vaul. Those who continue on with me are considered to accept those terms. After looking at everyone's face to judge their reaction, he begins walking east.

[Zhym]

Harold chuckles again. "With a party like this, who needs monsters?"

[Marullus]

As Wendall threatens to cast spells upon him, Nihilius' composure wavers, the anger of such a grave insult seen upon his face. He stands a long moment, not speaking, staring at Wendall, until the emotions drain once more.

He then continues to address Wendall in a calm, level tone. "You speak of me as 'boy' and of your power being amplitudes of my own... If outward appearance fools you, then you know little yet of magic, or power. I am sorry for your life in an orphanage. Sorrier still that those you choose as friends verbally abused you for months. Sorry most of all that you find this an acceptable way to treat others. I have been respectful to you, until now. I am telling you as your magus did not - there are better ways to treat others. I have no intention of taking verbal abuse, as you did. Let this be the end."

He turns to Dorvar and Varas, taking a moment to regain his composure and speak to the with all formal courtesies. "No offense to either of you is intended. If you wish to accept that Wendall is obnoxious by nature, as you said, that is your choice. I do not choose to accept it as normal and acceptable towards me. I will assume your threat to kill me with your Axe just now was a mistake of emotion, and hold you in no ill will. I apologize for being irritable myself, as this has been an unexpectedly discomforted few days for me, too."

He looks across each of them. "If this is unacceptable and I am unwelcome, I can turn back now."

I truly would like to know how he actually "insulted" or "abused" you with what he said. Or was that just roleplay?

Your implication that he'd be verbally abused for a month, as you were, is what he finally responded to. But we are being IC here. You are playing an uncouth and mannerless orphan with no charisma. I am playing a centuries-old archmagus who is particularly put-out about finding he looks like a teenager, and with archaic sensibilities about what disgraces the name of wizard. This is the first interaction with that truth... The odd-fellows nature of these two should come to eventual relationship, I hope.

[Scott308]

Your apology is accepted. I have no interest in harming any in this party, and I did not threaten you personally, Nihilius, says Dorvar. I just wish to make clear to everyone that we cannot afford to have issues between us that could cause us problems in the future. If everyone feels they will be able to get along and rely on each other, because at some point any of us could be the one person that has the ability we need to survive, then we can continue on our journey. If we need to stay here and work things out, so be it. If anyone feels they cannot work together with everyone else, it would be best if they left now. If you continue on, know that petty squabbles will not be tolerated. There are enough things out here we will have to fight, we don't need to be fighting each other. If one or two people put the rest at risk they will need to be dealt with somehow. Until you have been out here, you just don't know how dangerous it can be. We had issues in another expedition that almost turned ugly. Luckily, that got straightened out before anything bad occurred, but I do not wish it to happen again. I would not have come on this journey if I was not comfortable that each one of us will be able to contribute to a successful return to Vaul. However, since I have not been out here with a few of you, I will still need you to earn my full trust and respect as I expect to earn yours, but I will not disrespect anyone unless you give me reason to do so.

[Dram]

Baxtaw- I say this argument ends here and now! This land is no place for squabbling among those that need to work together. Cause from what I have already seen of these lands in will make fast work of who do not as 1 unit. He looks at the 2 squabbling mages. And starts walking with the others towards the east. You both should be ashamed you act as if you the intelligence of a 1/2 Ogre.

[OGRE MAGE]

Wendall looks confused at the latest words from Nihilius. He pauses his retort as the others speak. He stares at the "boy" for a long time, as if he may have just had a small epiphany in his own mind.

When the others have finished he speaks again, addressing the entire group, but mostly speaking to the new members.

On one of our first forays out here we were ambushed by a mob of goblins and their dire wolf mounts. We thought we could take them down with little trouble but they got the jump on us and before we could act against them, we found ourselves in a very sticky predicament.

He looks to the core members of the party to see if they recall the situation he is referring too. After he receives a nod or two of recollection, he continues.

Those bastards wanted to take Dorvar away to their masters as some sort of slave and they would have taken out the rest of us in their efforts. It took some quick wits and actions FROM THE ENTIRE GROUP to get out of that mess and we eventually came out the victors. From that point on, I knew that this was the group that I was intended to be with.

He looks at Harold for a second, trying to remember if he actually did anything during that encounter but decides against speaking up about it.

The point is, we were not willing to let them take our comrade no matter the cost to the rest of us. That is the mentality that we each MUST share out here in the wilds. If not, then each one of us will end up doomed eventually. It's true that we didn't all start out on the best foot. Again he winks at his new elven friend, Valorei.

Our real character shows through when it comes down to the life or death encounters out here and I believe that will continue to be the case. I wouldn't trade any of these guys and girl for anything in the world. That is what has made us successful. That is why we are all still able to journey and explore together. That is what will keep us alive!

I am willing to put this little misunderstanding behind us if the rest of you are. I will also try to respect your beliefs and the manner in which you are accostomed to be spoken too. As I said, I meant no disrespect to you Niles, or any of the others here. Let us all keep our egos in check from now on and try not to offend or be offended by each other's behavior or comments shall we?

Now.........can we move on with this already?

Wendall hefts his bag and points to the east and begins walking onward.

I think we can move on now Kheenelf. Or do we need conformation from Val first? I'm pretty sure MW doesn't post over the weekends and I don't really think we need Val's permission to walk in an easterly direction anyway.

[Marullus]

Nihilius simply nods assent and continues walking as well. "We speak in unison now... trust is paramount. Respect begets trust. I suppose I am too antiquated in that; I did not see that it might be possible to both disrespect each other and engender trust. If that is your way, I will seek to understand it, as your companions clearly trust you." He walks in silence afterwards, still struggling quietly as his legs wince involuntarily on their third day's march.

OOC: Yes, let us please move on. It was not my intent to cause all that. My apologies.

[AleBelly]

I thought it was fun. Well played, everyone! In my opinion, adventurers would mainly be living at the fringes of society. If they were socially well-adjusted they probably wouldn't need to risk their lives to have a comfortable life!

[Keehnelf]

Agreed with AleBelly's comment. Also: character development! It's all part of the game. For me, the only real difference between this and combat is how much mechanical work I need to do