Heroica RPG - Quest #131: The Kind of Law They'd Understand

[CMP]

Now, the last time he was here, he felt a little awkward - like y'all didn't quite like his being there. Well, that'll be different this time. He wants y'all to line up to greet him cheerfully when he comes into town later today - make him feel welcome, roll out the scarlet carpet - the whole deal!"

Miderun stared in complete, utter disbelief for a few long moments at the outlaw and his furry companion as silence descended on the party. The orc snickered a little - and then it quickly fell apart into fits of helpless giggles and raucous laughter, grabbing one of the building railings for support as her absolute amusement at the demands practically echoed in Sundragon valley.

"Oh, Tarok," she sputtered, wiping tears out of her eyes.and straightening up again. "Tarok, you two are funny, really..." She shooked her head, regaining her composure, but with an uncharacteristic, endlessly entertained smile on her face. "I don't even want to kill you guys. No honor in killing the messenger. Go tell your boss when he gets here we're gonna rip his face off." She paused, snickering again, and waving them off. "Run along now, ilark ei il cezndo azh dol anar daz mar, we'll still be here when you get back."

[Asphalt]

Vindsval looks askance at Miderun, never in all of their travels has he seen the woman so . . . well so happy. It might possibly be far more terrifying than the giant scorpion from Tridentia.

"There you see my sentiment doubled Son of Law. Return to your master, and tell him we eagerly await his return."

[The Chosen Minifigure]

Warlen drinks a Hurricane.

Suddenly, he starts to laugh at Mideruns laughter, just a snicker.

Pulling out his wand, he shouted "Begone!" before mumbling some unintelligible words. To an onlooker, it would have sounded like... a spell?

[Kintobor]

"Um, why are we telling them to come back? Why don't we just tell these guys to tell Sean Cole to go away? I mean, does everything we do have to end in violence?" Annienal says, directing her question to Miderun and Vindsval.

[Asphalt]

"Whether there is violence or discussion depends entirely on This One's Master." He motions at Lawson and the Kangaroo Kid "We know his master is coming if we are here or nay."

[Kintobor]

"Whether there is violence or discussion depends entirely on This One's Master." He motions at Lawson and the Kangaroo Kid "We know his master is coming if we are here or nay."

"I... I guess you're right..." Annienal replies, sounding somewhat disheartened. She'd hope that once she could find a scenario where her words could save someone besides the young duke, but even she questioned how much he had listened to her and not Docken. She looked worryingly at Miderun, hoping she'd keep her violent streak under control.

"Um... Warlen... are you okay?"

[Asphalt]

"Do not despair Annienal, each soul walks their own path. At every step a possible divergence. I heart delved in violence has but to turn aside and a new way can be chosen. Who is to say that this day will not be such a day for this Cole?"

[The Chosen Minifigure]

Warlen, who had stopped mumbling a while back and had been looking absentmindedly into the distance, turned to the Elf.

"Hmmmn? Oh, yeah, just thinking that this outlaw's probably a miner himself if he's "Seen Coal". Heh."

[CMP]

"Um, why are we telling them to come back? Why don't we just tell these guys to tell Sean Cole to go away? I mean, does everything we do have to end in violence?" Annienal says, directing her question to Miderun and Vindsval.

"Of course it does," replied Miderun, sounding surprised. "If mortals were meant to be reasonable we'd all be living in peace, wouldn't we? Violence is what we are. No point in fearing that."

[Lind Whisperer]

QM Note: Apologies for the delay, I will update later tonight.

"Hmmmn? Oh, yeah, just thinking that this outlaw's probably a miner himself if he's "Seen Coal"."

QM Note: "Sean" is pronounced the same as "Shawn". Easy mistake, though.

[The Chosen Minifigure]

Ooc-Could we ignore that, and Retcon it for the sake of a pun?

[Lind Whisperer]

Ooc-Could we ignore that, and Retcon it for the sake of a pun?

QM Note: Of course - the more so since the pun requirement only applies in-battle - which none of you are currently in.

[Asphalt]

OOC: and the flashbacks to elementary school begin, cause guess what my first name is and how it's spelled.

"Of course it does," replied Miderun, sounding surprised. "If mortals were meant to be reasonable we'd all be living in peace, wouldn't we? Violence is what we are. No point in fearing that."

"There are those among us who strive to find a balance in such things. But it does seem as if there are far more who relish in the extremes."

[Lind Whisperer]

QM Note: I am very sorry and sincerely apologize for again failing to update, I'm having going through some difficulties in my non-Heroica life. I will have an update in the morning.

[Zepher]

OoC: Okay with me! My busy patch just ended, so I'm back in the game!

"No thank you," says Bobby to the spider-woman. "I've gotta bounce and find my crew." Walking out of the tavern he finds that they've already assembled. He walks up, a little ashamed at being the last one. The dudes are dressed weirdly - Bobby's sure they must have explained it, but he has no clue what's happening. In an attempt to save the strangers trouble, he edges up near Miderun. "What's up?" he murmurs.

[Lind Whisperer]

"Then be on your way and tell your master I will await him here. For I fear I cannot allow you to stay here and intimidate or threaten these good people."

"Yeah...that's not going to happen. We're supposed to stay until everything is set up for him."

Miderun stared in complete, utter disbelief for a few long moments at the outlaw and his furry companion as silence descended on the party. The orc snickered a little - and then it quickly fell apart into fits of helpless giggles and raucous laughter, grabbing one of the building railings for support as her absolute amusement at the demands practically echoed in Sundragon valley.

"Oh, Tarok," she sputtered, wiping tears out of her eyes.and straightening up again. "Tarok, you two are funny, really..." She shooked her head, regaining her composure, but with an uncharacteristic, endlessly entertained smile on her face. "I don't even want to kill you guys. No honor in killing the messenger. Go tell your boss when he gets here we're gonna rip his face off." She paused, snickering again, and waving them off. "Run along now, ilark ei il cezndo azh dol anar daz mar, we'll still be here when you get back."

The outlaw looked at his companion nervously.

"Uh, Kid...When orcs laugh, is that generally to be considered a good thing?"

"No."

"Oh, boy..."

"There you see my sentiment doubled Son of Law. Return to your master, and tell him we eagerly await his return."

"If it wasn't that my "master" is slightly more fearsome than that orc, I do believe I'd take you up on that..."

"Next time I tell you we should open an obviously profitable carpet cleaning business in Xu, you should listen to me."

"Uh...Kid...I don't think that there will be a next time..."

The two outlaws looked nervously at the assembled heroes.

What would the party do?

[Asphalt]

Vindsval looks at the two would be highwaymen, he gets the feeing that they serve more out of fear than out of loyalty.

As I see it Son of Law, Child Kangaroo, there have been two roads laid before you. Stay here and continue to try to intimidate us, which would surely end in your deaths or flee from us and tell your master we await his presence. The later could very well end poorly for you as he may not be pleased to hear of your early return. I would off you a third path. We, my companions and I, are here to end the tyranny that this Cole has let fall over this settlement. If you choose to side with us, I will hold your past as past and allow you to leave this land free men with no price upon your necks. What say you? What is your decision, Fight, Flee, or side with us?

[Lind Whisperer]

Vindsval looks at the two would be highwaymen, he gets the feeing that they serve more out of fear than out of loyalty.

As I see it Son of Law, Child Kangaroo, there have been two roads laid before you. Stay here and continue to try to intimidate us, which would surely end in your deaths or flee from us and tell your master we await his presence. The later could very well end poorly for you as he may not be pleased to hear of your early return. I would off you a third path. We, my companions and I, are here to end the tyranny that this Cole has let fall over this settlement. If you choose to side with us, I will hold your past as past and allow you to leave this land free men with no price upon your necks. What say you? What is your decision, Fight, Flee, or side with us?

The two outlaws looked at each other, but didn't seem quite convinced. Perhaps if someone else also spoke diplomatically to them?

[Kintobor]

"Um... if I could intervene," Annienal says diplomatically, while staying closer to the back, "I am more than willing to look the other way if you two want to go and start that carpet cleaning service in Xu. I can't speak for what my friends here will do to you should you not, but I for one would hope that you two will listen to me, Mr. Lawson and... um, Mr. Kid . I'm sorry, but if you could give me a name, perhaps I could refer to you in a manner you'd approve of?" Annienal asks the man riding with Mr. Lawson.

"Of course it does," replied Miderun, sounding surprised. "If mortals were meant to be reasonable we'd all be living in peace, wouldn't we? Violence is what we are. No point in fearing that."

"I... don't agree with you. If we were truly meant to be violent, then how can me and you be friends? Friendship is built on trust on reasonability.

But... maybe it's a cultural thing... I guess." Nothing she'd read about them could help Annie in trying to figure out Miderun's strong opinions.

[Zepher]

"Yeah dudes, carpet cleaning would be a-okay with me! I don't even know why we'd stop you!"

[Lind Whisperer]

"Um... if I could intervene," Annienal says diplomatically, while staying closer to the back, "I am more than willing to look the other way if you two want to go and start that carpet cleaning service in Xu. I can't speak for what my friends here will do to you should you not, but I for one would hope that you two will listen to me, Mr. Lawson and... um, Mr. Kid . I'm sorry, but if you could give me a name, perhaps I could refer to you in a manner you'd approve of?" Annienal asks the man riding with Mr. Lawson.

"Yeah dudes, carpet cleaning would be a-okay with me! I don't even know why we'd stop you!"

The man in the white hat looked long and hard towards Annienal, before turning and looking at his companion.

"Do you think - hypothetically - if we started riding now, we could make it to the edges of the desert before Cole-"

"-We'd need to start right now, and he'd already be chasing us by the time we make it halfway-"

"-But we'd have a bit of a head start-"

"-A bit, nothing more-"

"-But even so-"

"-We might just make it."

The two looked at each other for a moment...then nodded in agreement.

"Love to stay and chat, but Cole isn't going to be the friendliest person when we don't return to tell him everything's ready."

"You should be warned - he'll probably be sending others to check up on us, in addition to when he himself comes."

The two turned their horses away, and began to trot back towards the road. The were-kangaroo looked back towards Annie.

"It's Qabic."

"I still like The Kangaroo-man with No Name-"

"We are not calling me that..."

The voices of the two drifted off into the distance. Although no battle had been fought, the party all felt somehow more experienced.

QM Note: Another group will be riding in to check on them sometime tomorrow. Feel free to interact with NPCs/stores in the meantime.

[CMP]

Miderun watched the pair of fools ride off, shaking her head as if in disappointment, but made no mention of it.

"I... don't agree with you. If we were truly meant to be violent, then how can me and you be friends? Friendship is built on trust on reasonability.

But... maybe it's a cultural thing... I guess." Nothing she'd read about them could help Annie in trying to figure out Miderun's strong opinions.

"Sure, but you can't talk all your problems away. Solving problems usually ends in violence. If they didn't, there wouldn't be heroes around to solve them." Miderun shrugged, and turned to Vein. "Now about that ambush..."

[Zepher]

"Good luck!" Bobby shouts as the two ride off into the sunset. "They seemed like tight dudes. Hope they make it to Xu, yo! What were they here for? Getting chased by the dude that we gotta deal with?"

[Asphalt]

"They were sent ahead of this Cole to prepare his way into town. It would seem he deemed his last greeting unfitting to a man of his station."

Vindsval watches the pair ride off into the sunset.

"May redemption find them on their path. It seems it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying. It is good that they chose the latter."

Edited April 6, 2015 by Asphalt

[Zepher]

"Oh, cool, cool. So we'll have to prepare the welcome without them, then? Aight, I can dig that." Bobby grins and cracks his whip. "Anyone want to loan me some dough? There's a tight looking scythe over there."