The Bold Adventures of Poins--On the Town

[Rhialto]

Alan eagerly asks, "oh can I join in the inspection of the troops with you?"

OOC: As you're in the bar, and Helm and Graeval are bickering outside, you hear this as muffled, hard to identify speaking, with perhaps a few words intelligble.

 

[Rhialto]

Caradoc rises with a sigh. "I think you've got the right idea, my friend. I'll be needing to explain to my father why he'll be short-handed for a while, as well as preparing some necessities to take along."

Hmm. I wonder if I might convince Father to allow me part of the Inspector's payment as an advance on my pay? he wonders, feeling the coins shift as he stands.

Caradoc arrives back in the shop to find his father there, sitting at the desk, and tapping his fingers, with his mother standing behind Cador nervously. "So, Caradoc, would you mind telling me where you've been?" he asks calmly. Perhaps too calmly.

 

[Ranger Rick]

OOC: As you're in the bar, and Helm and Graeval are bickering outside, you hear this as muffled, hard to identify speaking, with perhaps a few words intelligble.

OOC: whoops. Sorry.

 

[Bloodcookie]

Caradoc arrives back in the shop to find his father there, sitting at the desk, and tapping his fingers, with his mother standing behind Cador nervously. "So, Caradoc, would you mind telling me where you've been?" he asks calmly. Perhaps too calmly.

"I'm sorry for leaving the shop unattended, Father, but a group of soldiers had ridden into the square, and were raising a call to arms. I didn't know if the troops from Syra had already arrived, or if perhaps the village was under attack, so I thought it wise to examine the situation, so as to be best prepared for all eventualities. Now, we haven't spoken of this to one another, but I'm sure we're all aware of how some of our neighbors have begun to view us since the Inspector began his stay here."

He pauses for emphasis, then goes on, "Well, as it turned out, these soldiers presented an opportunity for me to restore our reputation. Apparently, they are in the service of a man who is... at odds with the Emperor. The details aren't important, but the citizenry was, naturally, quite in favor of anything that could possibly result in a retraction of the Emperor's less popular policies. Well, to make a long story short, I took advantage of their enthusiasm, and publicly volunteered my service in these men's... political operations. You know how I've always had something of a knack for things of a diplomatic nature," he says with a modest smile, and waits for his parents' response.

 

[Rhialto]

"I'm sorry for leaving the shop unattended, Father, but a group of soldiers had ridden into the square, and were raising a call to arms. I didn't know if the troops from Syra had already arrived, or if perhaps the village was under attack, so I thought it wise to examine the situation, so as to be best prepared for all eventualities. Now, we haven't spoken of this to one another, but I'm sure we're all aware of how some of our neighbors have begun to view us since the Inspector began his stay here."

He pauses for emphasis, then goes on, "Well, as it turned out, these soldiers presented an opportunity for me to restore our reputation. Apparently, they are in the service of a man who is... at odds with the Emperor. The details aren't important, but the citizenry was, naturally, quite in favor of anything that could possibly result in a retraction of the Emperor's less popular policies. Well, to make a long story short, I took advantage of their enthusiasm, and publicly volunteered my service in these men's... political operations. You know how I've always had something of a knack for things of a diplomatic nature," he says with a modest smile, and waits for his parents' response.

"Son," begins his father slowly, "I cannot allow..."

"Oh, stow it, Cador," declares Else Nuttall fierly. "Can't you see Caradoc's right? And just last night we were talking about him him wasting his life here!"

Cador blinked. "Yes, dear, but--well, wars are..."

"Dangerous, but I bet our boy can handle himself," replies Else. "And I seem to recall something you can give him to help with that."

Cador Nuttall stares at his wife quietly. "You're not budging on this, are you?"

"Twenty years we've been married, and you have to ask me that now?" says Else, crossing her arms.

Cador coughs, and then heads upstairs for a moment, returning shortly thereafter with a large chest. "Son, since your mother and I have decided this was probably a good decision on your part, I guess I should mention this to you. You're not the first Nuttall to go to the Wars. Your grandfather Lucan, and his brother, Cassawallan, went off and fought with the Brothers against Gavaine the Cruel. They both did well, and wound up serving in Gaheris's Gallants, as they called the bunch, with honors. Afterwards, they fought in the Khuldeshian Uprising of 1458, where your grandfather made a mint, and your great uncle Cassawallan--well, he got a spear in the belly, and died like a dog. It was your grandpa's mercenary work that made the money that our business is built on. Now, to this day, I've kept the equipment he and his brother used for a rainy day, and now--" He opens the chest. "I'm giving it to you."

 

[mps42]

Helm seems to control his anger and frustration--but just barely. "You wish to see our armies, Nibelung? Very well! Come with me, and I'll show them to you! Then you can decide whether or not we're a force to challenge the Emperor!"

"And just where is it that I'd be following ye *to*?"

 

[Rhialto]

"And just where is it that I'd be following ye *to*?"

Helm glares at the Nibelung. "Our camp and headquarters. See the army you have mocked for yourself! Then, if it does not wake the fires of courage in your breast, you may return home, on my honor. So, Nibelung, what say you?"

It occurs to Graeval that quite a few of the townspeople out in the square are glaring at him, and muttering things under their breath right now.

 

[Rhialto]

As Alan Hale sits there, soaking in the excitement of being--a soldier now, there is a creak. "Alan," says a dark voice he knows very well by now. Alan turns to see his father standing there, along with Bran.

Madoc Hale stares calmly at his son, and cracks his knuckles. "Well, lad, I heard ya'd gotten involved in foolishness, and now I see it for meself. So, then, here's what yer going to do. Ye're going to come back with me an' Bran, in the back of the cart. Then, when ye're back, I'm gonna tan yer hide so that ya won't be able to lie down for a month--which means some a yer work stands a chance of actually gettin' done. An' then, lad, we won't hear any more foolishness about joinin' any armies. Am I understood?"

"Da's bein' real generous!" blurts out Bran. "I was sayin' we should thump ya like ye're Arch's own hammer, right here, in the town square, but he wants ya to be sparred the embar--"

Madoc's huge tree trunk of an arm lashes out, knocking his oldest son off his feet. "Shut up, Bran." He turns to Alan. "Well, Alan? I don't see ya gettin' up."

 

[Bloodcookie]

Cador coughs, and then heads upstairs for a moment, returning shortly thereafter with a large chest. "Son, since your mother and I have decided this was probably a good decision on your part, I guess I should mention this to you. You're not the first Nuttall to go to the Wars. Your grandfather Lucan, and his brother, Cassawallan, went off and fought with the Brothers against Gavaine the Cruel. They both did well, and wound up serving in Gaheris's Gallants, as they called the bunch, with honors. Afterwards, they fought in the Dyrush Uprising of 1458, where your grandfather made a mint, and your great uncle Cassawallan--well, he got a spear in the belly, and died like a dog. It was your grandpa's mercenary work that made the money that our business is built on. Now, to this day, I've kept the equipment he and his brother used for a rainy day, and now--" He opens the chest. "I'm giving it to you."

"Mother, Father, I'm glad you understand, and I thank you, not only for this, but for all you've given me. I promise to make you proud with it." He embraces them both.

 

[Ranger Rick]

Alan looks to his father, than to the soldiers....screwing up his courage, he says, "Father I am not coming with you. You and your farm chores can be damned. I am going to become a soldier and fight for freedom. Nothing you say or do will makeme come back."

Seeing the shocked face of his father, starts to get to Alan, but than Alan's words break the silence, Alan brain is on autopilot, the words are streaming from his unconcious.

"Father, you might be strong enough to take me home, but I will run away and join the army. If you take me back again, I will run away again. If you tie me up, I will untie myself. I am joining with friends and acquientances and joining a just army today. If I have to I will join an unjust army alone tomorrow. No matter what I am joining an army."

Alan closes his eyes and spins to turn his back to his father.