Warriors Of The Coast

[stonegod]

Ari raises his eyebrow at the Luttin's speach, but keeps quiet during it. He nods at Taviss' and Garrick's words, and then cocks his eyebrow again when Nelson's mecurial mood changes once again. As the boy salivates for the food, Ari approaches him and looks him in the eye.

"Some of us are outsiders, yes. Some of us may not have had the pleasure of growing up next to these charming neighbors. But these are not friendly neighbors. They have been killing your friends and family for three weeks now. Well, perhaps not any of the Luttins. But the rest of the town has sure felt the heat. And you want us to wait, think these things out. Well, Nelson, you have had three weeks to sit and think. The time for that is over. It is time to act; to save what many hold dear---to get back at those that prey on us without apparent provocation and without recourse for diplomacy. Our enemies are not sitting and thinking---they are preparing to kill this young lady's brother. A native of your village, if you must be reminded."

Ari turns away, tightening his gloves. "Jina has an idea of the trail, Taviss and I will try to follow it from there. We will have plenty of time to plan our course of action in route."

As he approaches the door, he looks at Nelson one last time. "If you want to help, help. I haven't heard you volunteer yet."

 

[James Heard]

Taviss pauses at the door, and as Nelson speaks he slowly turns around. "You ain't any less of a citizen than me, Nelson. But th' place ain't too different from--" he pauses for an uncomfortable moment, then goes on. "I spent enough time 'round parts where I was the outsider fightin' off mobs a' men w' aims to kill me and m' band. Way I see it, we got no choice, as the longer a boy's s'rrounded with scalies the less time he'll breathe."

"You're thinkin' different," he goes on, "but I ain't seein' how we'll do a damned thing for Jango if we don't start movin'."

"And how well did that work out for you and all the rest of your like back in t'World Tav'? Because as I'm understanding it, you all went out hot for killin' and jus' came coming back and coming back fer dying. Maybe you stop to see the choices and you'd 'ave ent up with a lot less deaders filling yer fields? An' maybe you'd please yerself to remember that Q'Barra was built on people who decided that they had a choice other'n killin' each other as th'wind blows."

Foreigner filth, it's not like his family is going to be dying if we escalate this...

"Tell me, which of the Lizard tribes did this? Why? What do they want? It's not hard, Lizards ain't folks but they're alike enough to talk to. If they just want us dying then why are we still here? No? Then it's probably that they're jus' less'n you? There's racist nuts n'the ground- we don't need to water'en. They's at least as different from each other n'us from each other...And alike we're talkin' bout some crims bent on blood same as the sorts we have t'deal with here."

"Some of us are outsiders, yes. Some of us may not have had the pleasure of growing up next to these charming neighbors. But these are not friendly neighbors. They have been killing your friends and family for three weeks now. Well, perhaps not any of the Luttins. But the rest of the town has sure felt the heat. And you want us to wait, think these things out. Well, Nelson, you have had three weeks to sit and think. The time for that is over. It is time to act; to save what many hold dear---to get back at those that prey on us without apparent provocation and without recourse for diplomacy. Our enemies are not sitting and thinking---they are preparing to kill this young lady's brother. A native of your village, if you must be reminded."

Nelson rolled his eyes. "Three weeks, since when? Since Seawell was founded? There's always Lizard attacks. Lizards n' humans fight just like you probably did your fair sails worth of rapin' and killin' and didn't seem to be no mind about it when you got on that ship, aye? Fightin' and killin' thas all fine and dandy, but stupid is a wonderful way to meet your own about it and that's where you're headed straightways. Now, I know you've all got your idiot up n' about, that's clear. But you dying after goin' all out to kill lizards with no plan other'n follow'n trails and striking out w'murder in yer veins isn't just stupid fer you only - it's stupid for all of us'n town. You're talkin' enemies when you're too dumb n'thick-headed to think of allies. You're talking about "time", but you won' take none to figure out the hornet's nest other'n to grab ahold of it with two paws and start shakin'."

"Now, what the lizards are about is a mess - but Lizards throwin' themselves at th'walls ain't petticoats to simper at the sight of yer blade pirate, nor soldiers preparin' an offensive, ne'er even trophies to wander their heads on th'wall. They's people, a strange and bitter sort, n'I think it's sort of sallow that I have to be th'one to remind you all. What gain we if we kill seven lizards and they respond with killin' twenty o'th'farmers on the outskirts of town. The lizards have been all red-eyed and deviltry recently, no doubt, but Sailor? Don't pretend your couple o'months here have taught you alike enough history to know when they're spitting and when they're at war. Their croakers ain't come out fur enough to the walls, n'they've not really made any attempts at single combat? Thas them takin' askance at us. Who has been pokin' around where they shouldn't in the Lizard's territory, n'wanderin' around in Lizard places is as aggravatin' and fire-stirrin' as it would be fer the Lizards t'be wanderin' around in ours. We Luttins know these things, 'cause we've been out there talkin' other'n be bringin' them t'sword and pretendin' we know."

"Tell me true: If I was in on a ship, or in the army, and you gave me advice about the way things worked I reckon I'd have to trust you on the way things are. Some of you haven't been here as long as since I broke my voice and got my first hairs and you're lecturin' me about th'Lizards? Even Master Silversun knows if'n he wants to know something about th'Lizards he should ask a Luttin, even if'n he'd rather get fancy with an ogre rather'n make it happen. A Lizard is bigger, stronger, and sly as a middle of the road toad; they have differn ways n'us but I'm tellin' you that you trompin' out right now ain't goin' to be nothin' but you dyin' or getting others killed - or else if your gods are in yer pockets and you come out alive you jus' end up killin a bunch of people tha'look differen' n'you for no particular reason other'n you're an evil son-of-a-drunk pig with a feather in yer hat fer death."

As he approaches the door, he looks at Nelson one last time. "If you want to help, help. I haven't heard you volunteer yet."

"My mother always taught me to stand clear of evil men and my pa told me to stand clear of stupid men. I think I should do no better than to stand far away from stupid, evil men." He paused and looked at the noblewoman. As he continued his voice was without the backward twang usually associated with it.

"And you, Khalia, do your teachings in your church support the senseless slaughter of innocents and risk of the greater good for the smaller? Does the church know its enemies by proclamation and announcement, or by consideration?"

"Because," Nelson said," it is very much a struggle for me to see how you could support the valiant and brave merely on pronoucement in the face of reason, or bravery that risks the lives of innocents, when other options - more peaceful ones - stand. I admit I don't know much about faith, or goodness, but as I am very much a hypocrite on small things I understand the nature of hypocrisy fully. When good people intend to do good and do harm by denying that they intend to do harm, when they deny that they might be doing an evil. Nobody is more dangerous than someone who imagines himself pure in heart, for his purity, by definition, is unassailable." His eyes became downcast, and his hair fell across the front of his face.

"Well I know I'm not perfect, and no I'm not goin' t'follow a damned fool to the wallow to kill hisself and others. And maybe everyone on this fool's fancy lives, because even th'blackest hearts aren't slick to luck neither - I know I've got more'n my fair share e'en when I've got six fingers in the'pies -but it won't because someone tried to shame me into doin' m'duty to the people I've known my whole life who's only been here fer a pig's lick. And it won' be off t'kill the Lizards when we don' know which Lizards have done all this mud. I ain't got enough conscience to spare fer stabbin' my neighbors in th'back in the dark, and I don't think you do either. What I am gonna do, is find out who did this and why, try to keep the Lizards from killin' evil fools along with born ones, bring back Miss Jina's brother without setting the tavern on fire by stamping on eggs, and do what needs t'be done instead of wastin' time on talkin' murderers away from their blades."

"Please don't kill my family, and my neighbors, and my kin, by this foolish plan. Cease. I'd ask Master Silversun t'stop you, but Master Silversun would quit the sun from rising other'n admit a Luttin right. For what it's worth, even the dullest of you I don't wish the death I see fer you."

A twinkle appeared in his eye.

"And no, this don' mean I won't rob yer corpse an' wear your boots - 'specially those o'you that got no place but violence in this town. Don' mistake my caution an' brilliance fer care." he grinned widely. "A man's family though, is his only true possession."

He sobered.

"An' I'll get him back, Watchmaster, even if I have to whist'n the devil into Khyber. E'en if I'm off in the bush m'self to rescue bald fools from black. Because Mistress Silversun makes excellent pies, e'en if I might know something about what happens to them as falls from the windowsill. An' Mistress Jina has been patient with growin' boys as much as anyone. An' Jango helped push me t'ask Merrilee Anser out a coupl'a years ago and he was right - past th'eyepatch she really did know some things I'd never even considered properly."

"I'll get 'em back, an' I'll tidy up what ruckus murderers make along the way, show blackhearts what vengeance proper fern n'needle like makes the most of here n'th'backend of forever, and I'll be back t'worrying Jina w'crass comments alike I never told you nothin' contrariwise by six days after, Master Silversun...But as much it spittle you're family too n'a way n'a Luttin don' stand aside fer family for no cause."

"Just 'cause everyone's pegged Nelson Luttin round fer a square hole don't make three hairs on the backside of a hen. Some parts jus' fit the way the'do 'cause they's born that way, an' no feren murdererin', stealin', extravaggance makes one lick of difference to the way the wind turns round the world."

"Mistress Juja, excuse me fer the floor."

He spat and glared at Ari.

"Go along devil, take your horn an' mischief out where the blood won't stain my town."

"Go on, I have to go find a mop, because even with not an ounce of manners I own more respect for the people of this town than you've ever given or deserved in return."

Nelson went to find the mop. He'd spilled enough things in here in childhood escapes that he knew where it should be.

OOC: And THAT was my Diplomacy check for turning the townsfolk here against "ferners and people who go along with that fool plan" I suppose.

 

[DEFCON 1]

In all the years people have lived in Seawell, there was one truth that could be easily followed... you didn't need to listen to a member of the Luttin clan, because what came out of their mouths usually was self-serving claptrap. However, this speech by the young Nelson was different. As he went off and displayed a large amount of compassion for the town as a whole and not just his own interests... most of the folks within the compound took notice. And after he turned away to "find a mop", the others remained silent.

After about a minute, Watchmaster Silversun turns and address the group as a whole.

"Nobody is blameless here. We all do things that in the grand scheme of things result in problems for ourselves and others. Whether it's intruding on the homeland of others... assuming the worst in all types of people without getting to know them first... or making assumptions without gathering enough evidence to support your ideas. I think this is something we all need to remember... myself included."

He looks at each of the folks who have volunteered to help find Jango, and speaks to them quietly but firmly. "It is too easy for all of us to make snap decisions without first considering all sides. My boy is missing, and my first thought is 'kill the reptiles who took him!' But to be honest... I have no proof that any of the lizardfolk tribes are responsible. I have no proof that every single lizardfolk wants to do me harm. Yandson..." he looks at the young Garrick, "you have a friend from one of the tribes, don't you? Which is more credit than many of us have given them."

He puts his arm around his daughter and slowly exhales. "The facts of the situation are truly just this. Our outlying farms and roads into town have been preyed upon more in the past month than all the other times combined that I can remember. We've had few caravans come in, and we haven't seen a ship arrive from the south in well over a month. SOMETHING has gotten the tribes upset. But we haven't learned from it. It hasn't stopped the Finder's Guild from still traipsing through the swamps looking for dragonshards... it hasn't stopped adventure seekers from going out into the wilderness or out to the Xothkazzik Ruins looking for Host-knows-what..." he looks into his daughter's eyes with a bit of a reproachful look. "And it hasn't stopped any of us from taking a 'kill-first-ask-questions-later-approach' to dealing with the problem."

He nods to Watchman Rodden and motions for him that it's time to leave the Compound. "Perhaps my son being lost is a blessing in disguise. I've finally seen to look at this situation as a problem to be solved, rather than a war to be defended against. Those of you who have volunteered or hired to go out there to find Jango. This is not a military operation. Don't go looking for a fight. Please. We have a problem. Let's try and SOLVE the problem before just destroying the cause. Because if we truly make this into a war with the lizardfolk... we won't win."

He turns and escorts Jina and Rodden out of the compound. Assuming the rest of the party follows them out, they gather outside the building and Watchmaster Silversun kisses his daughter on the forehead and hands her his own thinblade sword. "Jina, show these people where you were attacked and where you were when you last saw your brother. And the rest of you... please... find my boy... but not at the expense of whatever goodwill we might possibly have remaining with the lizardfolk out there. Please." He nods once more, and he and Rodden turn and begin walking back to the outpost in the South Wall District.

 

[stonegod]

Ari says nothing during Nelson's diatribe. He face remains passive during most of it, and when the Luttin spits at his feet, the only reaction is a slight clenching of his left fist. Anyone who had known Ari a long time knew that was sign of anger---but if he was angry, it was a cold anger, seething on the inside.

Ari's face does not change as Silversun reproaches himself, Ari, Nelson, and the town for their various reactions. He says nothing as he is tacitly accused of stirring the lizard population. If he is remorseful, if he is chagrined, if he is vexed, none of it shows. He is a cypher.

The hexer follows the Watchmaster out, and listens to the elf's final plea. He waits until the Silversun and Rodden leave before addressing any who wait to continue on. "I will make one thing clear, and only this once. I have been hired to rescue Jingo; that is all I have been hired to do. I have not been tasked to slaughter the lizardfolk tribes, nor have I been asked to find peace between warring neighbors. I am here to save Jingo. I will use whatever tools necissary to do so. If we can bargain, we bargain. If his captors want to talk, we talk. If they resist, if they attack me or anyone in this party, then they shall reap what they sow. That better be clear." He looks around to drive his point home.

Ari nods and his stance relaxes---a bit. "Now, if there are no further delays, I suggest we follow Jina as far as we can to find the Jingo's trail. Until we know where he is and who has him, all other speculation is distraction." He pointedly does not look at the Luttin boy at this last statement.

 

[drothgery]

An Archivist is the mind that directs the Flame's strike. She must be calm, observant, and is quick to judgement only of the unreedeemably evil. So her father had taught her, all those years ago, when she had taken her first steps down the path that led her here. It was something she struggled to keep in the forefront of her mind as she listened to Nelson's tirade. Playing upon fear of outsiders was something she was well familiar with -- it was a third of the Council of Cardinals' stock in trade, if she were to guess. But it was not the Keeper of the Flame's way, and it was not the ir'Indari way either.

No one had even suggested charging the nearest lizardfolk and trying to make him talk, or some kind of armed raid into their villages, which the boy was trying to imply. And to even suggest that she might sacrifice the townsfolk to her own ambition, or even to the Church's, was enough to put her on the edge of fury.

"There is, as far as I know, no one in this town capable of locating Jango magically. He must be tracked from where Jina saw him last, and speed is of the essense in that. Unless we wish to wait for a randsom demand?" Khalia said. "I thought not. There is little time to waste."

 

[Bront]

Zan held his tongue. The Luttin boy certaintly had a point, but he'd been reading more into the rush than I think was heading. While it was likely the lizardfolk, there was no proof of that yet, and even then perhaps there was a reason. Perhaps the twins stumbled on some sacred land or something.

"And you, Khalia, do your teachings in your church support the senseless slaughter of innocents and risk of the greater good for the smaller? Does the church know its enemies by proclamation and announcement, or by consideration?"

Zan opened his mouth to speak, but then bit his tongue. Of course the Church of the Silver Flame had lead many needless marches against those who it felt were different. His own heritage was a cause of that. But no need to bring that up, it would likely only cause more problems. Besides, that was history, Khalia wouldn't have even been talking to him otherwise.

"Be it lizardfolk, or pirate or anythine else, as long as it can reason we can and should try to reason with it," Zan says. "However, anything that attacked Jina and kidnaped Jingo should be considered dangerous, and we must be willing and able to use force, even if it's not deadly force. I see no reason for anyone to die on this day, be it Jingo or his captors. We should find him first, and then we can deal with brining to justice those that took him, whatever that may be."

Zan raises his staff and pushes the door open just a bit, though it's obvious that it takes him a bit of effort to do so. "So, shall we be off?"

 

[James Heard]

"There is, as far as I know, no one in this town capable of locating Jango magically. He must be tracked from where Jina saw him last, and speed is of the essense in that. Unless we wish to wait for a randsom demand?"

"There are different sorts of magic and the end of a chase isn't always the most direct path, or the most informative...or prudent one, to persue." Nelson explained as he began to mop the floor. "Chasing a track is well and fine for finding your dog, but Lizards aren't dogs. Haste makes waste, an' it puts us on the end of the tail instead of looking for the head. And that's how you kill a Lizard, you kill the head. You yank its tail, cut it off, put it on a plate? Whatever, that don't do a turd's wiggle for it bitin' you. Now, I realize you're all pissfire mad now and you've all clenched yer cheeks right tight with the suggestin' that you'd be wrong, but you're wrong and heaps wrong besides. I made my promise, and I keep promises if'n nothin' else."

"I told you, go on and spill yer blood outside town. That might make it easier t'get Jango back if them Lizards think they've killed a passel of us and that's enough to make right whatever's got them stirred up. I'll miss yer poor humor Miss Khalia, and your righteous and holy coin too, but you're not worth dyin' for or killin' for or doin' the wrong thing t'appease you neither."

"However, anything that attacked Jina and kidnaped Jingo should be considered dangerous, and we must be willing and able to use force, even if it's not deadly force. I see no reason for anyone to die on this day, be it Jingo or his captors. We should find him first, and then we can deal with brining to justice those that took him, whatever that may be."

"But that's what I'm sayin' - it don't do a lick of good to find Jango if we don't know why they took him. Because if they took him for a pot," he looked uncomfortably over at Master Silversun," then we've got plenty o'time for revenge an'fire. And since they took him at all that speaks loads about them either wanting a stew an' starting the drums a'beatin' on all sides...and don't make no sense, I remind you all...or they took 'em because they want something that they think t'bold out of Seawell by holdin' him. Jus' killin' a few Lizards that have grabbed him won't fix the problem. Just getting Jango back, won't fix the problem. An' if'n it makes you all surly an'defensive, fine."

Nelson ticked off points on his fingers.

"Jango's prolly hurt, right? What if he's so hurt he can't get out on his own? Khalia, you said you've got "some small measure o'healin'", what if you've done yerself in taking care of your ownself? We need linaments and healin' stuffs, so that if yer out of yer small measures or feeding the soil peaceful-like we can get Jango back anyways."

"We need to know which of the Lizards stole him away, an' that don't mean findin' out which exact ones but which tribes, because the only folks the Lizards fight with more'n us is each other. That means that we've got friends of a'sort out there, for a while. There's always a chance that whoever this is, they're not sweet with the rest of their kin an'tribe too, which means their tribe could be our best allies imaginable. Lizards trade too, an' we've got stuff that don't trade too well when killin's and elf-nappin' is goin' on."

"Since they took him instead of killed him on'th'spot, they took him someplace. Followin' a trail seems hight excitin', but there's as like a chance that we could jus' find out th'likely spots on'a map. Zan's got lots of maps, an' so does Master Silversun, and alike I could probably scrounge up one or two with a talk with m'cousins or three too. Again, this is just good sense, because only a fool jumps into a hole to find out how deep it is."

"If'n we are, after much consideration, gonna be fightin' the whole Three Claw tribes, or the Dark Eye, or worse one of th'bigger ones out there, then all the rushin' an'followin' in the world won't do much good without an'army or at least some better plannin' than 'rush out inta the dark'"

"Perhaps if you all got tired of hatin' me for speakin' some sense instead of squawkin' alike you expect you'd find the time to speak some yerselves? Because truly, I'm plenty of experience with souls to pure to listen and too certain to learn. If you all can't figure that out then yer nothin' better'n a Wilken Luttin." he said, referencing the somewhat tragic Luttin cousin who wandered the town hugging strangers, after an unfortunate incident involving an attempt to milk a horse and a sharp, life-changing blow to the head.

Nelson sighed, still trying to convince the group.

"I'm not doubting courage here, I'm sayin' that when the brave and the foolish man walks inta the room he often finds hisself alone. I do it enough on m'own...about pies and pretty girls. We're talkin' about people's lives though now."

"Or maybe we're not fer some o'you. That's fine too. But thats where I'm standin', talkin' like I am right now, alike as you might ask the town to paint a picture of it so they remember the moment."

 

[Bront]

"But that's what I'm sayin' - it don't do a lick of good to find Jango if we don't know why they took him. Because if they took him for a pot," he looked uncomfortably over at Master Silversun," then we've got plenty o'time for revenge an'fire. And since they took him at all that speaks loads about them either wanting a stew an' starting the drums a'beatin' on all sides...and don't make no sense, I remind you all...or they took 'em because they want something that they think t'bold out of Seawell by holdin' him. Jus' killin' a few Lizards that have grabbed him won't fix the problem. Just getting Jango back, won't fix the problem. An' if'n it makes you all surly an'defensive, fine."

"I think the more pertinant thing here it to find him, alive hopefully, and go from there," Zan says. "While we can debate or learn the why first, that doesn't help poor Jango, and the longer we wait, the less likely he's alive. Finding him alive means we have several clues as to why they did it, with Jango's own testimony, the circumstances in which we find him, and the company we find him with."

"Allustar used to say," Zan says, as his visage becomes that of the deceased librarian, or at least a faithful attempt, "The why is always important in theory, but in practice sometimes the results count more." His face changes back to it's indistinct changeling form as he continues, "We can find what we will along the way, but we're wasting time here debating problems that may not even exist. Not something I'd be upset about normaly, but not when a friend's life is at stake."

 

[Rayex]

Jina - Elven Swashbuckler

Focusing on the Luttin kid during his tirades, Jinas eyes seems almost glazed over. A few moments pass by before she voice her thoughts.

"Yes. Alright then. Um. Sure... You are right. And I hate to agree with you, but I do. If they wanted us dead, we'd be dead, both me and Jango. We're not. You do as you want," she eyes the out-of-towners "but if you get Jango killed, you will regret it."

Realising what she just said, the young elven maid takes a deep breath before continuing.

"I guess what I am trying to say is... Please, let's not do anything hasty." She looks at her father and smiles, for once trying to follow her parents advice of thinking before acting "Oh, and you, "she looks at Ari "yes, you are hired to find Jango. By my father. That can change if I want it to."

Walking somberly over to Nelson moping the floor, she looks him in the eyes. "Nelson... We've had our differences... Lots of them. Now we're after the same. Please, help me find my brother."

With that, Jina turns and face the rest of the party charged with saving Jango, and look at them with a pleading look.

 

[stonegod]

Ari shakes his head, and rubs his left hand through his hair in exasperation. "We're just going around in circles now, chasing the eagle around Valiant and Vigilant. Jina---Yes, I have been hired by your father. Threatening the termination of my contract, however, does not seem the best way to assist him in rescuing your brother, however. Nelson---Call me whatever you want, I'm sure you'll blame me for the Last War next, but the point is spending time doing anything other than following that trail is a distraction. Its a big jungle out there, and going to another tribe or trying to find a needle in the haystack of a map only gives more time to 'cook Jango in a pot' as you so eloquently put it. We have a trail. Once we have an idea of where that trail leads, you and Zan can use your extensive knowledge to guess where it leads and Garrick can use his time with his scaly friends to determine what we might be facing. But trying to put that all together out here, where we are effectively blind, helps no one."

"Zan is right. All the clues are out there, not here, to find. If I seem to be rushing, it is because I am---time for Jango is of the essence. But nowhere did I say to burst in and kill everything that moves. We follow the trail---cautiously---and then evaluate the next step when we know where it leads. We are not going to divine any reason for this attack out here."

Ari cocks his head to the side, as if remember something. "As for healing, while a good suggestion, I suspect most of those supplies are currently more needed by the wounded. If you wish to ask Mistress Juju, Nelson, be my guest---but be quick about it."