TUW: The Outpost

Taylar nods and says, "Let us move on."

Spoiler: Rolls

81

Refuge:
This lightly populated village is located along the Western River about a day and a half walk south of Outpost and about two days north of West Cove. It was once a small fishing village populated by Pelimonra Faethrins, but that society was destroyed only a few Cycles back by Cathedral Soldiers under an order of ethnic cleansing by the Ministry of Light. Having met with opposition from a few brave, yet effective, citizens of Outpost, the attempt to rid the Northwest of all tribes except the Markidians failed.

The rebuilding of the village has been overseen and is currently managed by Vittero Luminet, a Priest of Dawn and the son of the Priest of Dawn in Outpost, who was one among the opposition to the idealogy of ethnic cleansing. He still works, discreetly, with his friends from Outpost, who are simply called the Outliers, to curtail any orders of the Ministry of Light or actions of various factions of the Religion of Light that he believes to be less than benevolent in intent, especially the kidnaping of girls to be trained as Daughters of Dawn.

Population:
The residents are now mostly refugees from a Centrin village to the north of Outpost that was attacked in the same manner as the Pelimonra village that was destroyed, but there are Markidians and Rheini who reside here as well. Like Outpost, all tribes of people are now welcome in Refuge, and all residents fall under the protection of Vittero Luminet.

Government:
The new town has now been recognized by the Kingdom seat, and its priest officially recognized by the Cathedral. As such, commerce follows the generally expected practices of the Cathedral in West Cove, and a written record is given to a Dedicated Clergy member during a regular audit, though there is yet very little commercial activity. There is no stationed constable, so law and order are maintained by the Priest of Dawn, who has a single unit of Kingdom Regulars under his command. The safety of the citizenry is also maintained by a unit of Rheini archers who reside in the city, under the command of Maka, a close friend and former Outlier, like Vittero.

Vittero Luminet also has a unit of the Daughters of Dawn, secretly, under his direct command, who never report back to the Cathedral. They were originally defeated in combat and all but the leader spared by the Outliers, then they were re-taught and re-conditioned by Vittero. Their uniforms were also replaced to contain the correct symbol for Dawn instead of the symbol for Dusk. This is a competent spy unit that gathers information on activity about the region. They are now led by a very young girl of only 15 Cycles, who was rescued by the Outliers, when she was 13, from her indoctrination site across the bay. As adolescence developed, she has also become a competent Bender.

Commerce:
The base currency is a coin, called a Mark, manufactured from Ocrin, the alloy of tin and zinc, and minted in West Cove. The Centrin people have proven to be astute craftsmen, and art has become the export of the developing village. Entwined wooden designs for Daylight and Dawn and decorative wind catchers have garnered an interest from citizens in Outpost and West Cove, alike. Because the designs honor the official religion of the region, some now hang in the Temple of Dawn in Outpost and even the Cathedral of Light in West Cove. These items are most often traded for wool.

Relations are being developed with a Sioliri village across the river that was discovered during the travels of the Outliers. This relationship is yet tentative and kept discreet so as to not attract the attention of the Cathedral. The Sioliri are competent hunters, but the Centrin people build better fish traps. Traps and metal arrowheads are traded for cured hides. The metal for such has been repurposed from swords captured from fallen enemies and delivered by the Outliers. There is a team effort for smithing between a Centrin and a Markidian man, but their skill is rather simple. The cache of extra swords has been hidden away from prying eyes by Vittero, and only one at a time is given over to the smiths.

The Rheini archers who live in town also provide skins from game. There is a tannery and a leatherworker on site, but the skill is simple, and there is not much of a demand for such things, outside of the town. The Centrin people also make use of the game in the form of manufactured rope and nets from the cleaned innards.

Raven Elk is ready to be on the move.
Ironically, all the travel and adventures that he and his friends have been through planted deeper roots than he believed. Despite a pleasant visit with his mother, Mom, he realized that his head and his heart longed for the road, even though he lamented it, from time to time, while he was on it.
He could only chuckle at himself, thinking: 'Boy, you need to learn to be happy wherever you are.'
He packs his few things and goes over to Taylar's to meet with his dad for needed repairs on armor and maybe get some extra weaponry besides his spear.
Maybe an actual sword of some sort.
OOC: rolls --- 84 (mulligan 48), 51, 90, 63, 76 (mulligan 67).

OOC: I know this is a late post, but I just wanted my initial intentions stated. This late in the game maybe it doesn't matter anymore.

Adisakti, who tends to walk in the Wilds with his swords in his hand, sheathes his weapons as the party nears Refuge. Seeing what appears to be slightly more people than when he was here last, he looks over at the others in the party and shrugs.

"Everything looks to be well, from here."

He takes a deep breath and tries to put a less dour expression upon his face than the one usually adorning it, as he continues to walk into town.

Taylar smiles, glad to be home. In response to Adisakti he says, "We have seen too many burned out husks that used to be homes and seen too many bodies of villagers whose names we will never know. I would rather waste time checking on people that I care about than take their safety for granted. The nasty zealots will still be there when we return to our mission."
He seeks out Vittero to tell him of the Hand of Justice and warn him that the guards transporting Astarte were told not to stop in Refuge. "I was concerned that meant Refuge would be a target for attack. I'm glad to see I was wrong."

Waynan said:

Raven Elk is...

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Eric Zephlaer said:

Adisakti... sheathes... looks...

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Kwargrow said:

Taylar smiles... says...

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Having no idea that Taylar had misinterpreted his demeanor and the simplicity statement, Adisakti mistakes his response as affirmation of his own ideology, since the two men are actually in exact agreement. Adisakti quits trying to put a on a good face and looks about, in earnest, for Vittero.

Having never been here nor knowing Vittero or any of these other villagers, Astarte simply follows along with the group, her thoughts her own.

Interestingly, the Centrin people are naturally more friendly than the Markidian people and even complete strangers greet the group as they are passing. Astarte can be a bit comforted in hearing words in her native language.

Vittero, who is about town tending to one thing or another, sees the party and immediately comes over. The groups meets at about the midpoint in town, beside the newly complete, yet simple, Homage of Dawn. Seeing the new addition to the party and recognizing her heritage, Vittero greets her in Centrin, identifies himself, and asks her name. He then addresses his other friends and asked how the mission went, hoping for good news with a quicker return than expected.

As pleasantries proceed, the three men note that they can no longer sense the talent to bend waylines within their lifelong friend. It is a disturbing absence. Vittero is also often interrupted by one town member or another, his use of the Centrin language is remarkable, as he switches between it and Markidian, depending on to whom he is speaking.

Taylar does not mention the lack of sensing the talent to bend waylines in Vittero, knowing if it is important, his friend will tell them. Of Astarte, he will introduce her to his friends and merely tell them that she joined the group along the way. He considers the part about her being captured hers to tell. After speaking with Vittero he will speak to the defenders of the town, telling them to be on guard against the Hand of Justice.

Asked to do that by Taylar, Astarte will make Vittero promise he will tell no one about what she's gonna tell him. Only then she will tell him about her unexpected arrest near Westford, the strange behavior of the Hand of Justice after, and all the things she heard from the captive soldiers before their execution.

Before Taylar leaves to speak to the defenders of the town, she will urge him not to tell anyone about the Hand of Justice, as he may have his moles even in the Refuge, but to tell them only to be always even more vigilant.

When the conversation with Vittero is over, she will ask him about the Temple of the Lord of the Day (as she always does, whenever she's in a new place). Hearing there's but the Homage of Dawn next to her, she'll go there. Later (if her friends haven't decided yet to leave the town), she will sleep a little (as she still feels tired after her encounter with the cathedral soldiers.

Taylar will honor Astarte's request and not speak of the Hand of Justice, but he still visits the Refuge defenders to encourage them.