Fireside Chat: The King
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:As the King sits with newly bandaged eyes, his patience nears its end. The other day, savage gnolls packed the wooden bridge climbed over and eventually shattered the gate that kept them at bay for many years. He sits alone in his hushed tent. The cool winds from the north whip at the canvas flaps. Quietly, he begins to mutter his thoughts:
Perhaps it is time to move on. :Runs his fingers through his hair: We call ourselves gypsies. Nothing to tie us to an area…ever wandering, following the call of the wind…make a quick deal here and there, live off the land…and, more often than not, the coin of a rich fool. : Exhales heavily:
How long have we been here? I watched a generation grow old, yet most of us still stayed. I, the king, :Laughs sarcastically to himself: King of the Gypsies, that’s me alright. I’ve preached that we can take care of ourselves. I fear the pride I instilled in my people will be our doom. Time and time again we turned away the aid of others. We are not vagrants, we do not accept handouts. :His hand moves in a striking motion.: Our word is our bond!
_We are a proud people. Outsiders delight in blaming us for their troubles and would happily toss us in windowless prison. We will never trust them! They have no honor and would undermine us as surely as they breathe!
Yet_ :exhales sadly: I find my heart filled with pain. I’ve lost many dear friends due to the growing gnoll forces. :His bruised hand touches the bandages: For a few weeks now, my sight has been lost. I see only shadows now…evil poison has taken most of my sight. Yesterday, I was grabbed, and tossed into the cavernous pit that separates us from those dog beasts. It’s a miracle I survived the attack when so many others did not. :Lowers his hand to his knee:
I’ve relied on Tero to be my eyes, my ears and my sword . I’ve given him my blades to protect my people, our people, until my senses become useful once again. He’s master of the battle. His tactics are superior. Unquestionable in fact! :Hesitates: I’ve come to him often for advice.
What is the cause of his neglect? I am told he is often found disheveled and exhausted. I’ve spent many sleepless nights at his side guarding against and fighting gnoll skirmishes. He has never shown signs of fatigue. :Stands abruptly and cups his fist that he punches into it:
Enough of my self pity. I’m the King damn it! It’s time I got some answers. :Reaches out for his walking stick and makes his way to find Tero:
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_The king turns his bandaged face towards the direction of Meril's voice. "He will be examined. His tent will be searched." the King pauses in thought a moment and then continues with "This would explain much, if Tero has become an addict or someone is influencing him in some way."
King Horgan proceeded to give orders to the guards to have Tero brought to him and have Tero's tent searched while he was with the King._
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_One night, as twilight falls and King Horgan returns to his tent, the elf recognisable as Meril (despite the loss of a great amount of his adventuring gear, it seems) approaches. Beside him walks another, the ranger Eluriel. The slender elf leaves almost no trace of her passing as she walks soundlessly on the leafy ground.
When the King is finally willing to listen, Meril speaks softly to him, while Eluriel remains silent at his side.
"King Horgan, I too am concerned by Master Tero's behaviour. I came with the hope to offer some information on the matter." He pauses to glance to the ranger beside him, who does not meet his gaze.
"Tero was seen shortly before he began to show signs of exaustion in Jiyyd. He was asking the inkeeper if he had seen a man - mostly without hair, but possessing a pony tail. He also spoke of the fact that he was able to appear and disappear almost at will, and could command creatures of shadow to obey him." As Meril speaks, the ranger beside him shifts her gaze to watch him talk, almost unwilling to look elsewhere - though her gaze rapidly moves elsewhere whenever he looks in her direction or notices the fact.
"Some later, he was seen - still in good health - in his tent. It was only shortly after that he began displaying signs of exaustion.
"Regarding those signs - I would urge you to consider the possibility that Master Tero is being afflicted by some magical or mundane influence, that causes him to sleep so often. It is an odd coincidence that he should act so oddly as gnolls assault the camp on an almost daily basis. It may also be related to the man he was searching for, or Thyrm, who was also seen tracking."
The elf pauses before adding, "I thank you for your time, and leave this information in your care. I hope others will step forward with anything they may know, also, and will encourage them to do so." With a brief dip of his head, a sign of respect, he leaves, the elven ranger following his steps as quietly as before._
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:King Horgan sits near the main campfires until dawn. He hears everyone’s foot falls fade into the distance. His mind is full of unanswered questions and self doubt.:
What have I done? : He voices in his mind: Part of me can't believe I agreed to accept the aid of Peltarch. Talgrath put it clearly that they would enter our lands with or without our permission and that our conversation was merely a courtesy.
Through the years we pushed everyone away. Kept to ourselves, even threatened to toss non-escorted outsiders into the pits. We have no true allies that would aid us against Peltarch if we declined their “offer.” No one would war against Peltarch. In fact, they would probably all join up as one to come against us and smite the gnolls, destroying our homes in the process.
:Sitting up he slides his walking stick along the ground crushing a few dead leaves. He closes his eyes fighting back the turmoil in his heart, seeing his dead kinsmen’s bodies’ bloated and charred as the fled from the one sided invasion.:
I will not let our pride kill the rest of my people. We are out numbered by the gnolls. Pretending we can handle it won’t bring my brothers and sister’s back. I’ve received many other “offers” from various groups and for now, I believe the men sent by Peltarch will persuade the gnolls to stay quietly across the bridge as they have for years.
I had wanted to discuss this with Tero last night but he was in no mind to do so. I hear him now…snoring in his tent. I’ve often joked to him he sounds like a blasted gnoll when he sleeps and that alone kept them at bay. :Laughs remorsefully:
:He stands slowly and stretches his back then removes his bandages from his eyes. The walking stick helps to guide him to Tero’s tent.:
I will speak to you now old friend. I hope you are in better spirits. I fear that you would not come to see me as I requested. Time is short and I need you to help strategize with Sir Talgrath. A task I’m sure you will not be pleased with.
