Feint Whispers Chapter #3: Festival of Falling

[Tokiwong]

"It is my fault your lordship, Jericho moved to defend me.. had I been more cautious the boy wouldn't have drawn a blade on me when I caught him stealing from me." looks down. "I wasn't thinking that he'd be so rash."

Jericho mulls over the words...

"It isn't your fault lass, the boy was a miscreant... he shouldn't have drawn a blade on you. Besides he he tried to place a scar on your charming physical qualities. I take offense at that as an insult."

 

[Krug]

"Jericho!" Bhartus shouts. He will try to see if he can heal the boy, casting Cure Light Wounds if necessary, but I assume the boy is too long gone to save. "Sigh... poor child."

Bhartus stays mum during Jericho's conversation with the sheriff. He is not sure what to think.

 

[Mirth]

"I know that you've saved our lives more than once, Jericho, and that you are a brave and noble warrior," Tarowyn takes a breath before continuing, "but you've been in these lands long enough to know that rogues, cutpurses and mountebanks are not fodder for the blade when they abscond with something. In fact, many of them are gainfully employed for those very skills, much as we are."

"Besides," the elf continues, trying to make it easier for the D'orite to understand his point of view, "that child was not of an age to make a true choice about what he was doing. More than likely, his theft was either out of necessity or to impress his friends or as an undertaking for another's profit. It would have been better to have captured him, learned his reason for stealing and punished him or the person he was working for, rather than to kill him. You may be rash, but you're not stupid. We have taken what we wanted from our enemies in order to enrich ourselves. How are we different?"

"But in the end, what's done is done," Tarowyn sighs and looks deep into Jericho's eyes. "At the very least, I believe you owe the boy's family a sincere apology and a blood debt. Especially since the child did not steal from you at all."

 

[Tokiwong]

"But in the end, what's done is done," Tarowyn sighs and looks deep into Jericho's eyes. "At the very least, I believe you owe the boy's family a sincere apology and a blood debt. Especially since the child did not steal from you at all."

Jericho nods..

"If the boy had family, then perhaps his parents should be fined for raising such a poorly disciplined child. It is obvious that the boy is most likely an urchin running the streets. I do not make it a habit to slay children, I am no child-killer, but I will not stand by and allow my friends to be assaulted by forces great and small. I acted, i tried to not kill the boy, but when I saw my ally in danger, I acted as quickly as I could. I owe that family nothing, and I will not lower myself, to apologize for their son turning to a life of larceny."

Jericho regains his composure, and folds his arms.

"And I am not stupid, and the killing of our enemies is something we do, it is our job, but most likely those goods were ill-gotten so your arguement is flawed. You did not mourn so for those killed by our hands, yesterday, or in the mines, we kill, we lead violent lives my friend. We take goods from those we best, but we do not stoop to thievery, or at least I have not seen any of us steep to such levels. Even the orc had a some sense of nobility. Are we different? I think so yes, if that was not so, then I would move on and find another troupe. If you wish me to leave, then say it..."

 

[Krug]

"Another nick for your sword, aye, Jericho?" Bhartus says, contemptuously. "Sometimes I think you just love to kill. Child, orc, demon, whatever, it's just a chance for you to show off your blade and your 'sword', perhaps to the lady Whitney."

Bhartus grows tired of arguing and shakes his head.

 

[KaintheSeeker]

"Another nick for your sword, aye, Jericho?" Bhartus says, contemptuously. "Sometimes I think you just love to kill. Child, orc, demon, whatever, it's just a chance for you to show off your blade and your 'sword', perhaps to the lady Whitney."

Bhartus grows tired of arguing and shakes his head.

Whitney flushes at the inference Bhartus makes, embarrased at the comment. A bit angry that he would be like that about her.

"If the boy has family.. I'll pay the blood debt." she says quietly, "since jericho was trying to defend me from the knife." Mist is heard purring from her neck but the familiar is unseen under her hair. "Does he have a family your lordship?"

 

[Tokiwong]

Jericho nods to the words...

"This blade has saved ye arse more then once Bhartus... do not forget that, old friend."

 

[Krug]

Bhartus hears the words without emotion.
"Well let Whitney pay the blood debt, if there is one, and hopefully no more thieves will dare approach us. After that demonstration of Jericho's skill, surely they would value their life over picking up a handful of silver," Bhartus says, looking to the sheriff for a response.

 

[jasamcarl]

"That is all well and good, but..." The sheriff in interrupted by a knock from the wall to your left. Upon turning you note the sound is coming from a window that looks out onto a garden; a hand is poking up out of the bushes planted around the building.

The sheriff grimaces, "What now?" He walks to within five feet of the window, hand on the hilt of his sword, "Show yourself!"

Two hands appear, pushing the window up. A young (human) man of no more than 16 years, struggles to climb through with his apparently small frame; his curly hair is a dark red and he wears a traveler's outfit of plain blue britches and vest, and a backpack.

"Who are you, boy?" asks the sheriff, obviously curious.

"I am Dalik, sir. I am a poet, though as of yet an unsuccessful one. I have news of that cutpurse; he is not alone. A gang of them live in the entertainers camp east of the square. They be known as Shorty's Gang. I know, because they came with me from the King's city. Their leader is a gnome bard who distracts the crowd while they thieve. He goes by Eldus, but we call him the 'tongue'. He is a very good performer, but very cruel. He forces everyone who entertains to pay him a portions of their earnings and puts us all under the threat of death should we put out the word of hhis going's on. After what the dusky man did to that scum, I decided to plea for your assistance."

The sheriff looks to the party, "There doesn't appear to be any cause for a blood debt this day, eh?"

Dalik interrupts the sheriff, "Sir, if I may? Your freebooters, though brave, also are known to my kind. The gang is likely to just flee should they see you coming, as they will; the camp is closed off by wagons and everyone is always watching. I suggest yee all disguise yourselfs. I can lead you into the camp. I be trusted.

The sheriff again turns to the party, "What do you all say. Can you look like ruffians? quite the stretch, i know."

 

[Krug]

"I'd look too well-fed," says Bhartus, "but perhaps we can pass ourselves off as actors? Since this is a bard we speak of. But does it not sound suspicious? Leading us into a camp of... 'freebooters'? What if this child is meant to betray us to his folks for them to wreck revenge on us for what happened today?"

Bhartus looks to the others to see what they think.