The Bold Adventures of Poins--On the Town

[mps42]

An attractive female Cob sitting at the high table motions for him to take a seat next to her. "Verdea Shatterskull wants company, city dwarf!"

Graevel notices the comely Cob and looks around as if he thinks she might be referring to someone else but, seeing no other smalls around, will wander over to the table.
"A fine evening to yer, miss Shatterskull. Names Graevel Kord and I ain't no 'City Dwarf'. Been aboveground fer the last 20 year or so but was born in the ground just like iron."

 

[Rhialto]

Count Meer glances at Caradoc. "Well, nice to see you again." He gestures to the chair next to him. "Please, take a seat."

 

[jkason]

Weel, human cleric

Weel mentally chastises himself. All these new faces and names must have overwhelmed him; how else to explain not recognizing the Count who had been so ... interested in Caradoc. Trying his best to give the merchant's son a look of sympathy. If anyone has the skills to deal with the situation, though, it's Caradoc.

Deciding he'd best save their fourth before someone like Meer takes an interest, Weel turns to the priest, gesturing to Izara.

"Would it be rude of me to ask that Izara join us? She and I were just a little while ago discussing philosophies, if that's your interest."

 

[Rhialto]

Harbrand laughs. "On the contrary, I'd enjoy it. Perhaps she could help settle a debate between Morenna and myself."

He gestures to the Sleurithian who'd been introduced as the Lady of Metals.

 

[Bloodcookie]

Count Meer glances at Caradoc. "Well, nice to see you again." He gestures to the chair next to him. "Please, take a seat."

Caradoc, stifling a groan, puts on a friendly smile and approaches the offered chair. Don't jump to conclusions now, give him the benefit of the doubt, he reminds himself. "Count Meer, what a fortuitous coincidence that we should meet here! I suppose a feast is as appropriate a place as any to enjoy that drink you'd suggested."

 

[Rhialto]

Meer smiles, his kohl-lined eyes sparkling. "Oh, I can't count this, my friend." He gestures to the ogre in the headdress. "Lord Etzel has supplied all the food and drink. Still, perhaps if the night goes well, I can talk you into coming to my tent for a fine glass of Fisirian liqeur." He chuckles. "It is has been said none know the pleasures as well as the Iskerians--and of the Iskerians, none know them better than the Fisirians." He leans back comfortably in his chair. "So, then, Caradoc, how are you finding New Holyhall?"

 

[Rhialto]

Graevel notices the comely Cob and looks around as if he thinks she might be referring to someone else but, seeing no other smalls around, will wander over to the table.
"A fine evening to yer, miss Shatterskull. Names Graevel Kord and I ain't no 'City Dwarf'. Been aboveground fer the last 20 year or so but was born in the ground just like iron."

Verdea laughs. "City of walls or city of caves, it's still a city to the dwarfs of the wild." She looks at Graevel interested. "Still--you are of the Exile, are you not? Are you from Stonehall, then? Or the Averna depths? Or simply one of the lesser mines?" She smiles. "After all, I've known many Children of the Exile to be born above, like myself..."

 

[jkason]

Harbrand laughs. "On the contrary, I'd enjoy it. Perhaps she could help settle a debate between Morenna and myself."

He gestures to the Sleurithian who'd been introduced as the Lady of Metals.

Knowing he's probably making a mistake, but as always unable to veer off, Weel asks as carefully and innocently as possible, "And what debate was that?"

 

[Rhialto]

Harbrand and Morenna both smile. "Why, my friend, it is a simple one. Which is more important for a soldier to have? A willingness to kill? Or a willingness to die?" notes Harbrand wryly.

 

[jkason]

Weel, human cleric

Harbrand and Morenna both smile. "Why, my friend, it is a simple one. Which is more important for a soldier to have? A willingness to kill? Or a willingness to die?" notes Harbrand wryly.

Weel frowns thoughtfully, then says, "Is it most important that a house keep the rain off your head, hold the heat from your fireplace, or allow for a cool breeze to vent the summer's heat?

"If a soldier is willing to kill without being willing to die, then his killing will never be of use in a pitched battle, when it needs to be, as the threat of his death will run him off. In the opposite case, he has no fear of the battlefield, but neither will he last long upon it, which does little to lead to victory. And both conditions ignore the importance that a soldier also be willing to push himself to survive a forced march to arrive at that battle, watchful so as to avoid ambush, willing to take the time to know both enemy and friend so that he strikes the right one, and a host of other needs.

"It seems to me, then, that it is most important that a soldier be willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill his duty to protect and serve."