"He who controls information controls the world," Sam counters to Elthana. It's maybe a smarter concept than he usually keeps at hand but it's very much union related so it's been drilled into him. "If we allow ourselves information from only Sergor then he controls us. What if the truth is that the Treasury is fixed and Sergor is sending us on a suicide mission? Ok, sure, unlikely but if we only listen to Sergor..."
Sam pauses a moment as he feels his temper raise and takes a deep breath. Then another. Eventually he looks back to Elthana and smiles.
"Nevermind... I'm sorry. I trust you so by extension I need to trust who you trust. You're holding the bag, it's all your call..." Sam adds in an attempt to soothe it all over.
Afte a few moments Hector comes back out of the doors and invites you all in, notably his two dragonborns guards who had been standing with you guys not able to understand a word you were saying, stay outside.
As you enter the room you see a long table and sitting at one side is the shadar-kai woman, the old kobold mage, and the blue mist giant (totally exposed and making the room real chilly) vin and Gewyn stand on the other side of the table joined by you all and hector gets to work opening the bag of breads he bought up and placing a fresh loaf in front of everybody including the elders.
Behind the elders is the third and last mural, as you get yourselves seated you have a moment to take it in. This one doesn't seem so ancient, it still looks many hundreds of years old but not as old as the last.
It depicts a woman, a woman that looks strikingly like Elthana, going to a cavern and meeting with Lumithor. Lumithor himself looks resplendent and fierce, he is guarding the gate to the shadowfell unmoving. Nivara turns away her visage looking evil, and in her wake there is fire and death as she leaves, denied of what she asked. Then comes a depiction of the shattering a massive lightning strike which pierces Lumithor and then through him, splitting the isle. It is a mural dedicated to the biggest catastrophe this isle has ever faced and the loss of their demigod, carved out in intricate detail.
Hector sits and motions for you all to do the same, and then he begins making introductions, "everyone that there is Ömertyr, a mist giant and speaker of the ancient elemental ways. In the middle is Kohso an extraordinary mage and the clan chief of every kobold ok this isle and across the realm, and lastly this radiant beauty on the end is Serafina, a warrior in her prime but now a teacher of the ways of the shadow arts granted to us through the raven queen's connection to the shadowfell, she is also my darling wife.
Elders you have already met Vin and Gewyn as capable as they are affable, Neferox is Vin's faithful and scary companion, this is Muir an inquisitive type, Sam over there can speak and write giant which is impressive. Griff here is... um... a warrior, and lastly Elthana whom we have discussed."
Kohso the aged kobold speaks first, her mouth moves in the ways of someone speaking draconic, but you all hear her raspy voice in common altered by some spell "you are all welcome, we have been told that you are here on important business for your realm. We have not seen any realm travelers at all other than hector here, so we are eager to hear from you. We would also like to figure out what is happening to you Elthana if that is something you seek answers to. But first, we break bread, and you can tell us of your proposition..." She ushers everyone to eat the bread in front of them as some sort of custom, to which hector begins tearing off chunks and chowing down, as do the elders but their attention never fully leaves the group.
Muir takes a piece of bread and tears a quarter off with his trunk. He eats the piece and passes it along to whomever would like a piece. "Thank you for your hospitality. Hector is right about my inquisitive nature. I am deeply concerned about the portals....Our history of the past seems to be....heavily guarded. So these murals are masterful pieces of art and history. I have enjoyed them and they have given perspective.
Elthana looks down at the bag and then up to Sam, her eyes filled with a mix of anguish, trepidation, and sorrow. "Now isn't the time to fight that kind of battle. We know from Hog's earlier correspondence that it sounds quite dire there. We need to just focus, he is an ass, but he won't send us astray."
She's the last one in the room as they join the elders, and she can't stop looking at the mural. It takes her sorrow to another level. She had a feeling it was something like that, but to see it laid out visually? How could these people even consider talking to her after what Nivara did? Let alone help her and her friends. The weight she is carrying gets even heavier.
She hears the introductions, but it doesn't really sink in until Hector mentions his wife. She stares first at him and then the beautiful elf he called Serafina. That would make her what? Well, Nivara's sister, but her? She does her best to hold back tears that come unbidden.
She had planned on laying everything out for these elders that have graciously met with them, but at the moment she finds she doesn't trust herself to talk. She copies Hector's motion of breaking her bread and tries to regain her composure.
Vin picks up his loaf with a nod of thanks, and takes a small bite before offering some to Neferox who has come to lie by his side. After she sniffs and refuses it with a haughty grunt, he turns to the others.
"So far we haven't got to the point of our visit here, we have just spent the time assuring our hosts that our intentions do not include causing trouble", he says before taking another bite of bread.
Vin looks at the three elders, a little concerned that some of the details they might share would not go down well.
"I think it is worth making it clear that some of what may come to light here is the truth as we know it, and happening a long time before we were born. And the risk to life is very real", he says, and then looks around the group wondering who will speak. Muir in his analytical and informative style, Sam who would likely be blunt and straight to the point, Elthana who must have so much on her mind already or Gewyn with his charm and gift for performance.
He does not even consider himself as an option, his eyes just rest on Gewyn.
Sam notes Elthana studying the mural so intently and understands what she is going through. Or at least understands she is going through something even if he cannot fully understand the full scope and depth of it. He puts one hand on her shoulder and gives her a small squeeze as he leans in and reminds her "We're all here for you..." and then lets go and moves away to give her time alone with the mural and her thoughts and all.
"Sam over there can speak and write giant which is impressive..."
After taking his seat and looking at those around him Sam really starts listening to the introductions when he hears this... Sam frowns and narrows his eyes in offense at these words and the idea that the "elders" will find it impressive that a Half-Orc can read and write. He was likely wired to dislike and distrust these people to begin with, just due to their being in power and ruling over people - Living the high life away and separate from the blood, sweat and tears of those who labor to provide it. But now hearing them give such a backhanded compliment in their introductory remarks... Sam is ready for a fight. For now though he settles for ignoring the plate of bread in front of him and scowling indifferently at their hosts.
Muir looks around at his companions and coughs a bit before speaking up "First let me thank you once again for your hospitality. We are grateful. We are here on a mission to save thousands of people in our realm. You see in our realm a large part of our city floats above the rest of the city which is grounded. The floating part has begun to sink and will crash into the rest of the city in a day's time, our realm. We are here to get a lodestone. Apparently what keeps this part of the city afloat comes from this world, this lodestone, which was gifted by Akiin. We have been told since coming here that the lodestone is a dragon bone. If we are unable to get a piece of bone the floating part of the city will crash down killing many thousands...many many thousands. Many of them are poor with nowhere to go. We are here to save our people. We humbly ask that you help us....I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have to the best of my ability."
Those who partake in the bread note that it tastes odd, not bad odd, but odd nonetheless, the grain must have been grown from the moss farms and leaves the bread with an earthy almost floral taste.
As Vin and Muir begin to describe the reason for the groups presence, it is obvious that the blue mist giant is not paying a vast amount of attention. Instead it measures Sam with it's eyes curiously, trying to read further I to the half orc after the news of Sam's talent for giant language.
Kohso raises a brow at Muir, "the theft of dragonbone is something that occured here a long time ago, of course we knew that the perpetrator was one of the Djiini, but that it was Akiin is unsurprising news. Also that he traded away such an important cultural relic to your realm like a toy or a trinket is... Well it's blasphemous of him, to say the least." The tension from Kohso and Serafina is palpable, and Griff shifts uncomfortably, but stays quiet.
"And now his actions have led to thousands in jeopardy and it is up to us to desecrate our lands and our martyr to save them... Is that what I am understanding?" Kohso buries her brow in her wrinkled hands in a stressful disbelief. "Tell me, what was the sacred bone traded for, and to whom in your realm?"
Vin feels the tension in the air, and really doesn't want things to escalate. He begins to feel a little nervous as he decides to interject.
"Of course this all happened before our time, and if it is true that the lodestone....dragon bone....was stolen before it was traded then that is truly unfortunate", he says trying to skirt around the issue as much as possible.
"To our knowledge, it was a gift freely given in thanks for opening trade between our two planes. Our treasury guild are the ones that used the gift to float a portion of the city".
He looks to the others, wondering whether he should just tell the whole truth about Sergor, but can't help but feel that considering Sergor's links to Nivara that news would scupper the negotiations entirely.
Sam's touch and words bring Elthana back to the present and she listens to the start of the conversation. She can't say she blames or disagrees with Kohso's assertion at all. She finds it hard to believe how much has changed since being named one of the Peacekeepers. Pulling her mind out of that wormhole, she focuses on the here and now.
"The sacred bone was given to Sergor Hamilton, and I believe as a gift. From what I understand, for introducing Akiin's way of trading with gold. If there was time to find a different way to stop this large floating part of our city from crashing into thousands, we would do our best to find a different option. But as it stands... yes, you understand correctly." Elthana doesn't trust herself to say more, but waits to hear what the reaction will be from saying Sergor's name.
Kohso sighs with frustration, and clears her throat, "it is always those with the least that must do the most to save others, cleaning up after self appointed elites with selfish goals and then absolving themselves of the consequences... How many of you grew up impoverished, pushed aside, or made a pariah? Or are our frustrations perhaps out of your realm of experience when you look about this isle?
I'm not asking to deny you of what you wish, if thousands of lives are at stake then of course we feel obliged to do something, but I want to understand you first.
Sergor is the husband of Nivara, and where Nivara harmed only this isle to our knowledge, drawing our ire for all time. Sergor has harmed this entire realm, his effect has been long standing and dire for a lot of people.
Our histories consisted of trade, of fairness, an economic system that rewarded for a hard day's work and took care of those who couldn't, and then Sergor introduced the Djiini to wealth, to greed and to financial manipulation. We here have refused to operate under that system, meaning even us elders get no more than the rest of this isle, we are not just leaders but members of a great community who rely upon one another and share alike.
I say this only to show you that this is where we are coming from, we hold eachother and our cultural values close, and I see that you hold your people dear too. But can you understand the unbearable weight of the system that your realm has undertaken, and how it looks after Sergor then forced that system upon this realm too. Help us understand where you are coming from too."
The blue giant finishes his bread and shifts his seat back muttering to Khoso "break this spell, my words are not needed here, I vote they should face Lumithor and he will test their hearts"
Muir gestures withhis hands to all of them sitting around the table " I will not speak for everyone here but we are not privilaged where we come from. I was cast aside as a child due to the way I look. The short of it is I was taken in by the druids of our realm where I go from small village to small town aiding those in need. Curing their animals of sickness so they may plow their fields, aiding them in planting so harvests will be enough to feed them for the year, prevent blights from ravaging towns and villages, all the while taking no pay other than the hospitality of those I am helping. I live in the woods protecting nature from those who would seek to destroy it for their own gains and benefit while throwing off the balance....That is who I am....I am Muir, Druid, and Keeper of the Woods. I am here to save those who cannot save themselves...I am not a friend of Sergor but a friend to those people who need one."
"You elders get no more?" Sam scoffs. "Do you truly believe that?" he asks looking around the table.
"The comfort of these halls is not something I have seen throughout your lands, the security. Here bread has been shared where not long ago we encountered those having to steal to eat. You live in no perfect society, I'm afraid. Even you having the power to help us or not sets you above those you rule over," Sam adds.
"Impoverished, a pariah? That was my life growing up. Pushed aside? By anyone big enough to dare. Did I have it worse than Vin here? Gewyn or Muir? Elthana? Who is to judge? Everyone's hardships are unique. Who amongst us is wise enough to balance them against each other? But all that is crap anyway. You do what you can to make it by. If you're a decent person you try to help those you encounter make it as well. And that is why we are here... To ask if you are decent enough people to help others despite all the hardships you have had."
"You say you get no more than the next person and yeah, I don't buy that. But you know what, I don't care either. I have not yet seen a perfect society that has it all figured out on how to take care of everyone all perfect and shit. I'm not judging your society and certainly no more than I judge our own. Ain't none of us perfect.... But you want to understand us? I'm a thug who grew up on the streets. Vin's a castoff who somehow still cares about everyone he encounters. Gewyn has been through untold horrors but still brings songs to the people. Elthana... Well she perhaps has it worst of any of us since she doesn't even know what she's been through... But we're here asking for help for our people. For the rich. For the poor. For the forgotten and for those who forgot them. And yeah... We're asking a lot of you. We get that. We probably don't even know how much we are asking of you... But we're doing it to help others. You want to understand us? That is all you need to know..." Sam says, rising to his feet as he does so.
"The people who put us in the position to need do this? They're some of the richest, crappiest people, I do not deny at all. And yeah in some ways they will benefit more than the people they live above. If I could let them fall without it harming the workers and farmers and all I would be hard pressed not to jump at the chance... But we can't always choose who needs our help. Only if we will give it or not... Which is kind of your choice now... But as we ask a lot of you, you are of course welcome to ask of us in return. This group of us here, we're a pretty talented group. But beyond us... You could ask through us of those that originally received the load stone way back when. They are in dire straits and you could negotiate with then through Elthana there. You have an ask that would help set your realm here right? Ask away... We come begging but we don't come without an ability to repay kindness."
Khoso dismisses a spell and light flickers and fizzles out of Ömertyr's throat as he moves toward the door. Khoso listens to Muir and then to Sam nodding as she takes in the sentiments "I feel we are of similar disposition Muir of the woods, though I am unsure what a woods is... However the distrust of those in leadership is a distrust you have gained from the poisoned system you come from, a system that has pervaded this realm and seen some isles better off than others, you have experienced theft and desperate people on Duun or perhaps more likely Gojiin, but that kind of behaviour does not happen here.." Khoso replies with a short tone, the later half directed toward Sam, but then she quickly eases up.
"I understand the sentiment though, the hardships you faced and the ideals you all seem to hold, they put you in a relatable standing. We could take you up on the offer of speaking to Sergor, negotiating our terms, but I feel that even in the dire situation he finds himself, he would not fulfill any meaningful change here before the bones would be delivered. Nor would he act without twisting things to his favour.
We could perhaps be selfish and ask something of you that would benefit only this isle, the destruction of the place that produces Mornlyf perhaps, or finding and eliminating Nivara. But these kinds of requests are that of those who would seek to gain more power, to violently raise issue and seek justice without care for those innocents it would effect..." Serafina furrows her brows at this and it is obvious that she would truly favour these kinds of requests. But Khoso continues,
"I feel you have said enough and pled your case that we will not stop you from visiting Lumithor's corpse, escorted of course. On the condition that you will treat it as the sacred place it is, treat the spirit of Lumithor with respect and not take more than you need. Once your business is done I ask you of one thing, spend time with our people, help where you can and seek something worthy of your capabilities to offer us in return."
The blue mist giant strolls around the table on his way out and stops next to Sam, even as Sam is standing the giant towers over him. "We don't waste food here.." he says in Giant to Sam as he leans down to pick up Sam's bread roll. "Come with me for a moment I have questions for you"
As Kohso comes to her conclusion, Serafina stands, "I will personally escort you all" she says somewhat proudly, a hand on the hilt of a weapon, her eyes land firmly on Elthana but her intentions and feelings on the subject are difficult to read.
Vin lets out the breath he didn't know he was holding, looking at Sam with a certain degree of wonder at the big half-orcs persuasive monologue.
"Thank you, you have shown true grace to look beyond the past and see our need for what it is. Might I just ask, what should we expect at the corpse of Lumithor?", he asks Khoso, seeing the other two elders a bit pre-occupied with Sam and Elthana. "Are we to commune with their spirit, or....well, I don't even know what else it would be?".
Neferox is now lying down, having also realised the tension is gone and the potential danger averted.
Sam is about to retort to the idea of spending time with these people when his train of thought is interrupted by the blue mist. "Where I'm from we save food for when we're hungry," Sam counters but does not object to the giant stealing his bread, the look on the faces of the others when they bit into it didn't look all that pleased anyway.
"Questions?" Sam asks. "For me? You sure? Maybe you want Muir instead... I'm not exactly the information guy of the group..." But Sam follows none the less after a small look and shrug to the others to indicate that he has no idea what this is about.
As Vin follows Hector, he throws Elthana a smile and a thumbs up, just before he disappears. As he goes, he mainly stares at the blue giant.
"He who controls information controls the world," Sam counters to Elthana. It's maybe a smarter concept than he usually keeps at hand but it's very much union related so it's been drilled into him. "If we allow ourselves information from only Sergor then he controls us. What if the truth is that the Treasury is fixed and Sergor is sending us on a suicide mission? Ok, sure, unlikely but if we only listen to Sergor..."
Sam pauses a moment as he feels his temper raise and takes a deep breath. Then another. Eventually he looks back to Elthana and smiles.
"Nevermind... I'm sorry. I trust you so by extension I need to trust who you trust. You're holding the bag, it's all your call..." Sam adds in an attempt to soothe it all over.
Afte a few moments Hector comes back out of the doors and invites you all in, notably his two dragonborns guards who had been standing with you guys not able to understand a word you were saying, stay outside.
As you enter the room you see a long table and sitting at one side is the shadar-kai woman, the old kobold mage, and the blue mist giant (totally exposed and making the room real chilly) vin and Gewyn stand on the other side of the table joined by you all and hector gets to work opening the bag of breads he bought up and placing a fresh loaf in front of everybody including the elders.
Behind the elders is the third and last mural, as you get yourselves seated you have a moment to take it in. This one doesn't seem so ancient, it still looks many hundreds of years old but not as old as the last.
It depicts a woman, a woman that looks strikingly like Elthana, going to a cavern and meeting with Lumithor. Lumithor himself looks resplendent and fierce, he is guarding the gate to the shadowfell unmoving. Nivara turns away her visage looking evil, and in her wake there is fire and death as she leaves, denied of what she asked. Then comes a depiction of the shattering a massive lightning strike which pierces Lumithor and then through him, splitting the isle. It is a mural dedicated to the biggest catastrophe this isle has ever faced and the loss of their demigod, carved out in intricate detail.
Hector sits and motions for you all to do the same, and then he begins making introductions, "everyone that there is Ömertyr, a mist giant and speaker of the ancient elemental ways. In the middle is Kohso an extraordinary mage and the clan chief of every kobold ok this isle and across the realm, and lastly this radiant beauty on the end is Serafina, a warrior in her prime but now a teacher of the ways of the shadow arts granted to us through the raven queen's connection to the shadowfell, she is also my darling wife.
Elders you have already met Vin and Gewyn as capable as they are affable, Neferox is Vin's faithful and scary companion, this is Muir an inquisitive type, Sam over there can speak and write giant which is impressive. Griff here is... um... a warrior, and lastly Elthana whom we have discussed."
Kohso the aged kobold speaks first, her mouth moves in the ways of someone speaking draconic, but you all hear her raspy voice in common altered by some spell "you are all welcome, we have been told that you are here on important business for your realm. We have not seen any realm travelers at all other than hector here, so we are eager to hear from you. We would also like to figure out what is happening to you Elthana if that is something you seek answers to. But first, we break bread, and you can tell us of your proposition..." She ushers everyone to eat the bread in front of them as some sort of custom, to which hector begins tearing off chunks and chowing down, as do the elders but their attention never fully leaves the group.
Muir takes a piece of bread and tears a quarter off with his trunk. He eats the piece and passes it along to whomever would like a piece. "Thank you for your hospitality. Hector is right about my inquisitive nature. I am deeply concerned about the portals....Our history of the past seems to be....heavily guarded. So these murals are masterful pieces of art and history. I have enjoyed them and they have given perspective.
Elthana looks down at the bag and then up to Sam, her eyes filled with a mix of anguish, trepidation, and sorrow. "Now isn't the time to fight that kind of battle. We know from Hog's earlier correspondence that it sounds quite dire there. We need to just focus, he is an ass, but he won't send us astray."
She's the last one in the room as they join the elders, and she can't stop looking at the mural. It takes her sorrow to another level. She had a feeling it was something like that, but to see it laid out visually? How could these people even consider talking to her after what Nivara did? Let alone help her and her friends. The weight she is carrying gets even heavier.
She hears the introductions, but it doesn't really sink in until Hector mentions his wife. She stares first at him and then the beautiful elf he called Serafina. That would make her what? Well, Nivara's sister, but her? She does her best to hold back tears that come unbidden.
She had planned on laying everything out for these elders that have graciously met with them, but at the moment she finds she doesn't trust herself to talk. She copies Hector's motion of breaking her bread and tries to regain her composure.
Vin picks up his loaf with a nod of thanks, and takes a small bite before offering some to Neferox who has come to lie by his side. After she sniffs and refuses it with a haughty grunt, he turns to the others.
"So far we haven't got to the point of our visit here, we have just spent the time assuring our hosts that our intentions do not include causing trouble", he says before taking another bite of bread.
"Well then if our hosts permit shall we get started then? Time is of the essence for quite a lot of people in our world."
Vin looks at the three elders, a little concerned that some of the details they might share would not go down well.
"I think it is worth making it clear that some of what may come to light here is the truth as we know it, and happening a long time before we were born. And the risk to life is very real", he says, and then looks around the group wondering who will speak. Muir in his analytical and informative style, Sam who would likely be blunt and straight to the point, Elthana who must have so much on her mind already or Gewyn with his charm and gift for performance.
He does not even consider himself as an option, his eyes just rest on Gewyn.
Sam notes Elthana studying the mural so intently and understands what she is going through. Or at least understands she is going through something even if he cannot fully understand the full scope and depth of it. He puts one hand on her shoulder and gives her a small squeeze as he leans in and reminds her "We're all here for you..." and then lets go and moves away to give her time alone with the mural and her thoughts and all.
"Sam over there can speak and write giant which is impressive..."
After taking his seat and looking at those around him Sam really starts listening to the introductions when he hears this... Sam frowns and narrows his eyes in offense at these words and the idea that the "elders" will find it impressive that a Half-Orc can read and write. He was likely wired to dislike and distrust these people to begin with, just due to their being in power and ruling over people - Living the high life away and separate from the blood, sweat and tears of those who labor to provide it. But now hearing them give such a backhanded compliment in their introductory remarks... Sam is ready for a fight. For now though he settles for ignoring the plate of bread in front of him and scowling indifferently at their hosts.
Muir looks around at his companions and coughs a bit before speaking up "First let me thank you once again for your hospitality. We are grateful. We are here on a mission to save thousands of people in our realm. You see in our realm a large part of our city floats above the rest of the city which is grounded. The floating part has begun to sink and will crash into the rest of the city in a day's time, our realm. We are here to get a lodestone. Apparently what keeps this part of the city afloat comes from this world, this lodestone, which was gifted by Akiin. We have been told since coming here that the lodestone is a dragon bone. If we are unable to get a piece of bone the floating part of the city will crash down killing many thousands...many many thousands. Many of them are poor with nowhere to go. We are here to save our people. We humbly ask that you help us....I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have to the best of my ability."
Those who partake in the bread note that it tastes odd, not bad odd, but odd nonetheless, the grain must have been grown from the moss farms and leaves the bread with an earthy almost floral taste.
As Vin and Muir begin to describe the reason for the groups presence, it is obvious that the blue mist giant is not paying a vast amount of attention. Instead it measures Sam with it's eyes curiously, trying to read further I to the half orc after the news of Sam's talent for giant language.
Kohso raises a brow at Muir, "the theft of dragonbone is something that occured here a long time ago, of course we knew that the perpetrator was one of the Djiini, but that it was Akiin is unsurprising news. Also that he traded away such an important cultural relic to your realm like a toy or a trinket is... Well it's blasphemous of him, to say the least." The tension from Kohso and Serafina is palpable, and Griff shifts uncomfortably, but stays quiet.
"And now his actions have led to thousands in jeopardy and it is up to us to desecrate our lands and our martyr to save them... Is that what I am understanding?" Kohso buries her brow in her wrinkled hands in a stressful disbelief. "Tell me, what was the sacred bone traded for, and to whom in your realm?"
Vin feels the tension in the air, and really doesn't want things to escalate. He begins to feel a little nervous as he decides to interject.
"Of course this all happened before our time, and if it is true that the lodestone....dragon bone....was stolen before it was traded then that is truly unfortunate", he says trying to skirt around the issue as much as possible.
"To our knowledge, it was a gift freely given in thanks for opening trade between our two planes. Our treasury guild are the ones that used the gift to float a portion of the city".
He looks to the others, wondering whether he should just tell the whole truth about Sergor, but can't help but feel that considering Sergor's links to Nivara that news would scupper the negotiations entirely.
Sam's touch and words bring Elthana back to the present and she listens to the start of the conversation. She can't say she blames or disagrees with Kohso's assertion at all. She finds it hard to believe how much has changed since being named one of the Peacekeepers. Pulling her mind out of that wormhole, she focuses on the here and now.
"The sacred bone was given to Sergor Hamilton, and I believe as a gift. From what I understand, for introducing Akiin's way of trading with gold. If there was time to find a different way to stop this large floating part of our city from crashing into thousands, we would do our best to find a different option. But as it stands... yes, you understand correctly." Elthana doesn't trust herself to say more, but waits to hear what the reaction will be from saying Sergor's name.
Kohso sighs with frustration, and clears her throat, "it is always those with the least that must do the most to save others, cleaning up after self appointed elites with selfish goals and then absolving themselves of the consequences... How many of you grew up impoverished, pushed aside, or made a pariah? Or are our frustrations perhaps out of your realm of experience when you look about this isle?
I'm not asking to deny you of what you wish, if thousands of lives are at stake then of course we feel obliged to do something, but I want to understand you first.
Sergor is the husband of Nivara, and where Nivara harmed only this isle to our knowledge, drawing our ire for all time. Sergor has harmed this entire realm, his effect has been long standing and dire for a lot of people.
Our histories consisted of trade, of fairness, an economic system that rewarded for a hard day's work and took care of those who couldn't, and then Sergor introduced the Djiini to wealth, to greed and to financial manipulation. We here have refused to operate under that system, meaning even us elders get no more than the rest of this isle, we are not just leaders but members of a great community who rely upon one another and share alike.
I say this only to show you that this is where we are coming from, we hold eachother and our cultural values close, and I see that you hold your people dear too. But can you understand the unbearable weight of the system that your realm has undertaken, and how it looks after Sergor then forced that system upon this realm too. Help us understand where you are coming from too."
The blue giant finishes his bread and shifts his seat back muttering to Khoso "break this spell, my words are not needed here, I vote they should face Lumithor and he will test their hearts"
Muir gestures withhis hands to all of them sitting around the table " I will not speak for everyone here but we are not privilaged where we come from. I was cast aside as a child due to the way I look. The short of it is I was taken in by the druids of our realm where I go from small village to small town aiding those in need. Curing their animals of sickness so they may plow their fields, aiding them in planting so harvests will be enough to feed them for the year, prevent blights from ravaging towns and villages, all the while taking no pay other than the hospitality of those I am helping. I live in the woods protecting nature from those who would seek to destroy it for their own gains and benefit while throwing off the balance....That is who I am....I am Muir, Druid, and Keeper of the Woods. I am here to save those who cannot save themselves...I am not a friend of Sergor but a friend to those people who need one."
"You elders get no more?" Sam scoffs. "Do you truly believe that?" he asks looking around the table.
"The comfort of these halls is not something I have seen throughout your lands, the security. Here bread has been shared where not long ago we encountered those having to steal to eat. You live in no perfect society, I'm afraid. Even you having the power to help us or not sets you above those you rule over," Sam adds.
"Impoverished, a pariah? That was my life growing up. Pushed aside? By anyone big enough to dare. Did I have it worse than Vin here? Gewyn or Muir? Elthana? Who is to judge? Everyone's hardships are unique. Who amongst us is wise enough to balance them against each other? But all that is crap anyway. You do what you can to make it by. If you're a decent person you try to help those you encounter make it as well. And that is why we are here... To ask if you are decent enough people to help others despite all the hardships you have had."
"You say you get no more than the next person and yeah, I don't buy that. But you know what, I don't care either. I have not yet seen a perfect society that has it all figured out on how to take care of everyone all perfect and shit. I'm not judging your society and certainly no more than I judge our own. Ain't none of us perfect.... But you want to understand us? I'm a thug who grew up on the streets. Vin's a castoff who somehow still cares about everyone he encounters. Gewyn has been through untold horrors but still brings songs to the people. Elthana... Well she perhaps has it worst of any of us since she doesn't even know what she's been through... But we're here asking for help for our people. For the rich. For the poor. For the forgotten and for those who forgot them. And yeah... We're asking a lot of you. We get that. We probably don't even know how much we are asking of you... But we're doing it to help others. You want to understand us? That is all you need to know..." Sam says, rising to his feet as he does so.
"The people who put us in the position to need do this? They're some of the richest, crappiest people, I do not deny at all. And yeah in some ways they will benefit more than the people they live above. If I could let them fall without it harming the workers and farmers and all I would be hard pressed not to jump at the chance... But we can't always choose who needs our help. Only if we will give it or not... Which is kind of your choice now... But as we ask a lot of you, you are of course welcome to ask of us in return. This group of us here, we're a pretty talented group. But beyond us... You could ask through us of those that originally received the load stone way back when. They are in dire straits and you could negotiate with then through Elthana there. You have an ask that would help set your realm here right? Ask away... We come begging but we don't come without an ability to repay kindness."
Khoso dismisses a spell and light flickers and fizzles out of Ömertyr's throat as he moves toward the door. Khoso listens to Muir and then to Sam nodding as she takes in the sentiments "I feel we are of similar disposition Muir of the woods, though I am unsure what a woods is... However the distrust of those in leadership is a distrust you have gained from the poisoned system you come from, a system that has pervaded this realm and seen some isles better off than others, you have experienced theft and desperate people on Duun or perhaps more likely Gojiin, but that kind of behaviour does not happen here.." Khoso replies with a short tone, the later half directed toward Sam, but then she quickly eases up.
"I understand the sentiment though, the hardships you faced and the ideals you all seem to hold, they put you in a relatable standing. We could take you up on the offer of speaking to Sergor, negotiating our terms, but I feel that even in the dire situation he finds himself, he would not fulfill any meaningful change here before the bones would be delivered. Nor would he act without twisting things to his favour.
We could perhaps be selfish and ask something of you that would benefit only this isle, the destruction of the place that produces Mornlyf perhaps, or finding and eliminating Nivara. But these kinds of requests are that of those who would seek to gain more power, to violently raise issue and seek justice without care for those innocents it would effect..." Serafina furrows her brows at this and it is obvious that she would truly favour these kinds of requests. But Khoso continues,
"I feel you have said enough and pled your case that we will not stop you from visiting Lumithor's corpse, escorted of course. On the condition that you will treat it as the sacred place it is, treat the spirit of Lumithor with respect and not take more than you need. Once your business is done I ask you of one thing, spend time with our people, help where you can and seek something worthy of your capabilities to offer us in return."
The blue mist giant strolls around the table on his way out and stops next to Sam, even as Sam is standing the giant towers over him. "We don't waste food here.." he says in Giant to Sam as he leans down to pick up Sam's bread roll. "Come with me for a moment I have questions for you"
As Kohso comes to her conclusion, Serafina stands, "I will personally escort you all" she says somewhat proudly, a hand on the hilt of a weapon, her eyes land firmly on Elthana but her intentions and feelings on the subject are difficult to read.
Vin lets out the breath he didn't know he was holding, looking at Sam with a certain degree of wonder at the big half-orcs persuasive monologue.
"Thank you, you have shown true grace to look beyond the past and see our need for what it is. Might I just ask, what should we expect at the corpse of Lumithor?", he asks Khoso, seeing the other two elders a bit pre-occupied with Sam and Elthana. "Are we to commune with their spirit, or....well, I don't even know what else it would be?".
Neferox is now lying down, having also realised the tension is gone and the potential danger averted.
Sam is about to retort to the idea of spending time with these people when his train of thought is interrupted by the blue mist. "Where I'm from we save food for when we're hungry," Sam counters but does not object to the giant stealing his bread, the look on the faces of the others when they bit into it didn't look all that pleased anyway.
"Questions?" Sam asks. "For me? You sure? Maybe you want Muir instead... I'm not exactly the information guy of the group..." But Sam follows none the less after a small look and shrug to the others to indicate that he has no idea what this is about.
Muir bows in thanks "I will be happy to help the people with whatever I can. I will repay your generosity. Thank You" Muir follows Serafina