((IF Sam hears this, seems to be whispering so maybe he does, maybe he don't...))
"To hell with my dominance," Sam snorts. "But I'll be damned it I allow some prissy little dwarf assert theirs over us unchallenged..."
"Hey, tell me," Sam says, grabbing the guards attention and leaning in to talk a bit conspiratorially. "Just what kind of todo do they have set up for us in there? We're being ambushed here, not sure if we're walking into some kind of interrogation or about to be paraded around like crippled vets at the parade... So what do ya know, eh?" Sam is hoping the guard is of the working class mentality and willing to share the details if he knows them.
The guard is not of the usual working class mentality, they seem more regimented and instead stand up a little straighter, whilst being addressed "I am not informed of the type of meeting you will be having sir, my apologies, if you'll all follow me"
The guard leads you down a hallway and into a familiar darkened room, the inside of the main council chamber, the room where you all met for the first time. The table in the center of the room is in the shape of a teardrop, illuminated magically from above. At the point of the drop sits Judge Tibus, the aged tortle who is the highest representative of the Marbled Legion, indicated by the legion's crest permanently painted onto his shell, to his left and right around the table sit the other council members.
Sergor Hamilton, Treasury, a slender full elf with pale complexion, adorned with a multitude of jewellery.
Lord Unvale Hemiran, Cavalcade, a stern and battle scarred tiefling with coal black hair encircling his bright red horns and skin.
Vance Meldane, Jasmina Free-Associates, a modest looking human with shaved head and fine but plain white robes.
Jimmy Connelly, Workers Faction of Marblestead, a ruggedly handsome man who is a little too tall for his Halfling heritage, he wears a crooked smile across his face beneath his unkempt chestnut hair.
and finally, in addition to these council members, Master Goodall, Keepers of the woods, an aged eladrin, wrinkled under years of weather exposure and clad in fine, yet obviously naturally sourced and homemade clothing, she smiles at the group as she sits in the chair that was previously occupied by High Priest Holm the last time the group was gathered in this chamber.
The group see Escan Ironhand, leaving a piece of paper in front of Judge Tibus, before walking out, he gives a sarcastic wink to Sam as he walks past and out of the room, leaving the group alone with only the council members.
The entire council watch as the group enter and take their place standing at the base of the teardrop, directly opposite Judge Tibus and in clear veiw of every council member.
Judge Tibus clears his throat, and begins speaking in a slow, thoughtful and methodical manner "welcome and congratulations on your success, this group has performed the mission set out by this council to a satisfactory degree. We have discussed at length and are all already in agreement that this experiment in the show of unity of all factions of this council shall proceed. Upon the celebration of the winter solstice, we shall present you to the people of marblestead and by extension, the people of Northmorrah entirely, and you will be given the moniker, 'The Peacekeepers of Northmorrah', a group of champions.
Firstly though I should clear a few things up, we have had reports on your success through messages from the leaders of Hokum, along with some contact we believe you have had through magical means with Master Goodall there, we have also employed the use of scrying techniques through one of the accomplished wizards and professor of the Cavalcade academy. That being said our first task on the docket is getting a full and detailed debreif directly from you as a group, then we will get to some housekeeping, which will include the replacement of the abdicated council member Holm, the situation with the clerics of Hermes and their base of Lyvander, and then finally your payment and expectations for the future...
if this is understood then please proceed with the debreif of your mission."
What follows is an expectant silence from the council, all eyes are on the group, with variety of expressions across the their faces; reserved, amused, gentle, severe, and bored, a few shift uncomfortably in their chairs and in the silence. Neferox lays down by Vin's feet and grumbles.
Sam sees Escan drop him a wink and bristles. It agitates and annoys and so when there is finally an opening Sam stands up quickly and speaks.
"Point of order before we begin the debrief and lovefest... You're little Escan Ironfoot there took something from one of us without permission. 'Confiscated' he says. Wanted for himself is more likely the truth of the matter," Sam insists. "You want unity? Champions? How 'bout we start by not stealing from one another?"
Sam takes a moment and looks around and surely he doesn't see a lot of sympathy for his claims but he really wasn't expecting them to just give it back. Not without at least putting some pressure on. "I'm done with this whole business if not. Walking. Going back to my own damn life. I'll not stand up as part of some sham illusion of unity when behind the lies it is all stealing and scamming and taking advantage of one another. So do what you want... But if it's not returned, now, I'm done and leaving."
Sam stands there waiting, not bothering to sit as he won't be in the room long if something doesn't happen.
Jimmy's shoulders sink as he shoots Sam a warning look. Judge Tibus holds up a finger for silence, and lifts up the piece of paper, reading it intently.
After a few moments, he speaks, again slow and methodical, "Escan Ironhand is the overseer for all magical items that come in and out of the city, for regulating the use of magical items and assessing risk.
Items taken; one cursed flesh bag, a soul bag used by fiends for ripping souls out of unwilling victims, it has already been destroyed. Second item, one demonsteel sickle, minor curse, given willingly in the promise of a trade for a blade of similar enchantment level without accursed attributes...
I see here that you yourself, Sam Hall were unwilling to provide any items you may have brought into the city to be assessed." He gives a sigh, and looks to Jimmy and then back at Sam.
"We have standards of practice, and if this kind of resistance at such standards is going to become commonplace, then I question Mister Connelly's confidence in you. Though I do believe that we could have been more forthcoming with our expectations in this matter, your threatening to leave at the first sight of something you disagree with is an egregious overreaction the situation, the consequences of which could result in sanctions for the Workers Faction of Marblestead as a whole. I would recommend that you use your stubbornness on the battlefield Sam, and comply with the little that is being asked of you, for the safety of this city." There are grumbles of agreement throughout the council members, and an amused exhale from Sergor Hamilton.
"How can a people be free when their every decision is in the grasp of another?" Sam asks, quoting Jimmy Connelly from one of his more famous speeches. "How can the masses be free when the sole purpose of their existence is to make profit for others?"
"Or as I would put it: I'll not live a life in which I don't have a say in how it's lived..." So saying, Sam turns and walks.
"Sam get back here and be quiet!" The rest of the council stat silent and some a little wide eyed as it's likely the first time they have heard the cool as a cucumber halfing Jimmy Connelly get frustrated enough to raise his voice, but as Sam looks at the man who brought him here he sees true anger in Jimmy Connelly's face.
"Don't you see, Jimmy? This is what it's all been about from the start," Sam says, a bit of a sigh in his voice, without turning away from the door to look at the man just yet. "The fight. The strife. The struggle. It's never been about higher wages or a day off a week. Well sure, it was but it was also about this... About having a say in our own lives."
Sam turns and looks at Jimmy finally. "'Get back here and be quiet,' you say? Have you forgotten where you are from. Who you are? P'raps you been on this damnable council too long. Your judge here is declare me a champion out of one side of his mouth and demanding I do what he says under threat to the people of the Tangles out the other. 'Get back here and be quiet?' Since when is Jimmy Connelly ever quiet about such a thing?"
Sam starts walking towards Jimmy. Not quickly or threateningly, just walking up as he talks. "Peacekeepers of Northmorrah, but only if we bow to their every demand and inspection? Only if we turn over our possessions, our wills, our souls? They watch us from afar and now put us under a grand inquisition to search for any stray inconsistency? I was unwilling to surrender items for inspection? From some rude dwarf who walked in and demanded our obedience though we knew of no authority except that which he claimed? And turned over or not, did he not already know of each bit and bob I had? Was he not able to inspect their nature without my surrendering them? It is a farce by those in power to remind everyone that their heal is upon the throat of those not in power, nothing more..."
As he stands before the furious leader of his faction, Sam unfastens the Bag of Golden Acorns and drops it on the table in front of Jimmy. "If you want your going away present to me inspected, then by all means call the vile little dwarf over and have him inspect it..."
Sam then reaches into another bag and takes out the Sending Stone he kept in touch with Jimmy with and plunks that down on the table as well. "Remember who you are. Remember where you come from. Remember what your job is... And if you and the council here decide to really be more about unity and working together, feel free to come and get me. You know I will fight for that. But this cow-towing to their demands under threat of..."
Sam turns to look at Judge Tibus with a fierce glare. "Just what are you threatening, judge? 'Cause I already lost the thing I cared about so you got nothing more to take from me. And if you come after the people... Their responded to such once before, didn't they?"
"Anyhoo!" Sam suddenly calls out in a loud and whimsical voice. "If anyone needs me I'll be at the forge. There's real work to do..."
Gewyn appears nonplussed by the confrontation, and possibly even slightly amused. A markedly different and more confident persona than before. He steps forward and stands exaggeratedly at attention. "The good councilman Connelly has a point. There is no need for Sam to be loud when making noise is literally my profession. My apologies for my companion here. A fine warrior, to be sure, but a practiced story-teller he certainly is not. He started at the end of the tale, where he freely made the CHOICE not to cooperate and present items to Mister Ironhand, which he was permitted to do without violent confrontation, and Elthana made the CHOICE to allow him to depart uncontested with an item she had procured. I do apologize for not educating Sam on the concept of contraband, import laws, and the general idea that part of running any city involves making safety-minded decisions about what comes through the gates. As a representative for a faction that is quite involved in making those decisions, I accept full responsibility."
Gewyn starts to pace. "Now on to the story, which for brevity and clarity will be told in chronological fashion. We made our way to Trundlesten with relative ease and briefly ingratiated ourselves with the locals before resupplying and hitting the road the next morning. That is where we first ran into trouble. In an ambush, we lost both Walker and Gara to malevolent forces. After a difficult battle against a corrupted creature resembling a deer, we met with refugees from Hokum. It is there that we learned that a taint was creeping through a gate between worlds at the behest of the twisted hag who had corrupted the other realm. Not only had she led the army that occupied Hokum, she was also attacking the survivors in their dreams. We then had no choice but to muster forces and spearhead a counter-offensive to retake the city. After that, our small group here continued on into the heart of the mountain to hunt down the hag and cut off the source of the corruption."
"With the hag dead and the portal purified, we made a large donation to Hokum's reconstruction efforts and left monitoring of the portal in the capable hands of the Clerics of Hermes." He takes a breath. "THEN we came back here and Sam alone opted out of the cursed customs inspection. Did I miss anything?"
Once Sam has left, Jimmy sit there red faced and livid, "one stubborn half orc he may be, but he does not speak for my entire faction, that is what I am here to do" he states through gritted teeth.
Judge tibus simply sighs and writes something down, then looks to Jimmy, "be that as it may he was chosen by you to represent this endeavour, you have four days to find his replacement or have him return on better behaviour and with an apology. I have no doubts that master Ironhand can be quite the difficult character to get along with, I know this from experience and I am willing to overlook this outburst based upon the group's recent successes and their just having completed a week's travel coming from the stresses that Hokum must have endured upon them. Is anyone opposed?" The old tortle looks around the group, to the other council members, Jimmy Connelly, Vance Meldane, and master Goodall both shake their heads no, but Sergor Hamilton and Lord Hemiran raise their hands.
"Point of order, I can see the merits to having such an attitude on this group, provided it is not within a leadership role or in connection to any democratic endeavours, this group should be about balance, I'd be willing to accept his return in the basis that the group understands this going forwards." Sergor states, his words carefully chosen and bemused.
"Point of order, the unwillingness to follow orders, the root reason of which lie in upholding the safety of the city, simply for some selfish ego trip makes that man a liability even if he were to return, his reasoning is not a matter of stress, it is an inherent flaw in his own values and ideals... even considering accepting an apology is an act of intentionally destabilising this venture, for those reasons I am fully opposed." Lord Hemiran states rather honestly.
Tibus bangs a gavel on the point of the teardrop table in front of him, just once, the smack of it resonating around the room, "votes against his conditional return are out voted, and point of order have been taken. Now that we have gotten that interruption out of the way we shall resume where we left off, which if you would like to begin the debrief?" The tortle addresses the group.
Used to staying in the shadows, Elthana hangs back a bit as they are all ushered into the council room. Seeing Master Goodall there, confirmed her belief that the Keepers are replacing the Clerics. At least for now, but she was glad as that meant Muir was staying with them. And as Judge Tibus started his speech, he confirms this as well, including all of them standing there, not singling the loxodon out.
But then it starts. She's too far away from Sam to try and stop him from leaving and the shouting between him and his sponsor was not something she would have expected, not the way Sam always talked about Jimmy. She worried what this would do to Sam, he seemed to always look up to the man and now? She hangs her head slightly, the concern weighing on her shoulders.
As Gewyn starts in and very deftly calms the room, she smiles. She may have taught him a few things with the blade, but he could dice up anything with that sharpened tongue of his. She's about to add something when the vote of Sam overtakes the meeting. She breathes a sigh of relief when it is determined he is allowed back.
Elthana clears her throat, steps forward briefly, "I believe that Gewyn just gave a very brief, but accurate account of what happened during our trip. Though, he did forget to mention the accursed giant." she gives Gewyn a little bit of a glare, but softens it and she hopes he knows she is just teasing a bit. She will NEVER forget that giant. "At least he is no more as well." And she steps back to where she was.
Muir not sure if his companions are meaning to keep it brief or not blurts out “Oh and the people slaughtered moving away from Hokum carrying the fruit that make people mindless in boxes stamped with uhhh oh uhhh” Muir pauses and realizes what he was about to blurt out might cause trouble….he continues on…. “I think Jasmina….
Tibus sits in some wide eyed shock before glancing with a cold gaze toward Sergor Hamilton, "I see that the rumours of portals and their heightened activity hold some merit, this is highly concerning..." Looking back to the group he continues.
"I would like you to expound upon a few points, what army was occupying the town under the direction if this hag? What forces did you muster to launch a counter attack? You mention a portal in the mountains of Hokum, correct? Do you know it's 'other realm' destination?
Also explain what you mean by 'fruit that make people mindless'..? The accusation that implies is a large one and will need investigation."
Noticing the cold gaze toward Sergor, she watches him to see how he reacts.
Then redirecting to Tibus's questions, she answers one, "We were able to get some animated trees on our side from a very large tree that came from this portal. They were with us when we launched the counter attack and were instrumental in us getting the upper hand."
She looks towards the door again where Sam left, hoping he would come back.
Sam Hall walks through the halls of the building with a bit of a glower to his face which causes those he walks past to give him a wide berth. For as much as Sam notices he does not have kind thoughts, instead blaming each and all for the messed up system that runs the place. It's all designed to keep those in power in power and every piece and pawn which supports that structure is either too stupid or too lazy to see it... Of they're scrambling to try to eek their way up the power structure, more worried about their own situation than those of the people around them. Feck 'em. Feck 'em all, Sam thinks.
He wonders if guard will try to stop him or not. Part of him hopes they do, he could use a good old fashioned scrap. Another part just wants to get out of this place, to Sam it feels more foul than even the most corrupted places by Rynwell the hag. Really, Jimmy? Backing those people over me? You've changed, my man. You have gone native... Let their ways get to you.
Sam is not stopped and he is soon out of the building and having to spend a few moments figuring out just where the carriage was left. Once done he stalks over to it. As he does he spots someone duck into an alley and head away to the northeast. A short someone. Escan? Sam wonders but he shrugs. He had no real desire to tussle with him. He is an officious jerk and Sam is happy to give him some lip but Sam may be stupid but he's not stupid - He knows one doesn't get to a position such as Escan's without having some power about him of one kind or another. No need to test that further... Sam pauses to pat the horses and say hello - Nice thing about animals, they don't play games or screw one another over. They are what they are. Oh they have personalities and all but their natures are their natures. You learn that and you know which ones may bite, which ones may run, etc... And they don't really change much from that. Anyway... Sam grab his items out of the carriage - Mostly several suits of armor they had picked up along their way and a few odd weapons as well as Sam's personal kit and gear. And then Sam hoofs it back to the Tangles...
It's a long walk and while Sam can often be quite single minded and unthinking, his mind does wander on the journey... He wonders just how bad he made things for Jimmy. He wonders if he really cares. He wonders if the judge's threat of repercussions upon the people of the Worker's Factions were true or not. Sam knew he would feel bad if anything happened due to him but he also knew the people of the Worker's Faction. You oppress a people long enough and you really can't oppress them further, can you? Any additional hardship or injury you lay upon them they were expecting to come at any moment anyway. People so treated know how to lean upon one another, know how to back one another... and know who to blame. They know better than to blame the cornered animal that turns to attack. They know they are all cornered and one bad day away from attacking back themselves.
But mostly Sam wonders about the team... He worries he may have made things harder for them. They're factions will protect them, Sam tries to reassure himself as his shifts the bundle he carries, and mostly believes it. It's a bit besides the point though. He liked them and didn't want to put them in a hard spot. Perhaps he didn't fully trust them, definitely had doubts about them, but he liked them... Strip away the bullshit and they all seemed pretty decent people. He wondered if the team would continue... And how. Would they just be a showpiece for parades to try to show how unified everyone is? Or would the council twist them? A group of the different factions could be a great thing to show to the people... If it was real. If they were really unified. A facade of such... that could be bad. Hopefully...
"There it is," Sam says to himself as he spots the forge. It somehow looked smaller than he remembered but it brought a smile to his face.
"Drawlin!" Sam calls out as he approaches the open doors. "I'm back and I brought something interesting..."
Muir steps forward wand provides a little more detail seeing Elthana distracted by Sam's departure
"The portal in the mountains led to the Faeworld. We met several peaceful Fae from that world including Old Thicket, which was the big tree who helped us take back Hokum. They all wanted to get home and aided where they could. While his awakened trees fought the Hag's Redcaps, we snuck into the cave where she was and defeated her." Muir pauses and looks around to see the council's reactions before continuing "The fruit, if eaten, makes people stop thinking for themselves. They will follow each and every instruction to the letter. They made people mindless. Several of hokum's people were afflicted by this condition, but we think it was a separate incident from the Hag. However, what was concerning for us was traveling back from Hokum we found a caravan ambushed. In the caravan were boxes stamped with the Jasmina logo carrying these fruits....We burned them all under Sam's guidance" Muir added that part to hopefully earn Sam a few points in the eyes of the council.
Tibus listens and takes in all information, the council seem uneasy. The tortle raises a hand to silence any further explanations "Mr Meldane please explain what you know of fruit shipments from Hokum?"
Vance meldane, the white robed, bald headed human sits up, his guileless face remaining unperturbed, "we have several imports of raw materials from Hokum, local rare fruits may well be among them, but I can assure you that if the Jasmina Free-Associates have been making people mindless husks devoid of will. Well the entire city would know about it. We are merchants of luxury and pleasures, not coercion and what sounds a lot like an accusation of some kind of slavery."
Tibus lifts his gavel once more, "you are to prepare the last two seasons worth of ledgers detailing the imports from hokum to each Jasmina facility in the city, is anyone opposed?"
This time Sergor and Jimmy are both quick to raise their hands,
Jimmy speaking up first, the red still filling his cheeks from his champions unexpected exit, "this group has no reason to lie about this, and Sam's misstep aside this proves that his values are based in the protection of this city as a whole. I don't think simply pawing over the books is enough of an investigation to properly figure out where these fruits were headed and how they have been used thus far. I'd like to hear what the Jasmina champion has to say about this."
Sergor seems to chuckle at Jimmy causing the halfling to fund even more, though he manages to keep himself from boiling over. The pale elf leans forward, amused and begins, "For once I find myself agreeing with representative Connelly, and with that I may have some pertinent information here. There is a facility that the Jasmina's own which has gone dark just this past week, time enough for reports of this fruits discovery to have been communicated and a cover up to take place. Now I understand that this is mere conjecture at this point but be that as it may I am willing to provide an address to the facility and the name of the foreman in charge, I will give this information for the investigation and the safety of Marblestead, on one condition...
With or without the apology I want the disrespectful brute to remain on this taskforce, keeping in mind my suggestions..."
Jimmy looks dumbfounded, as does Tibus who collects himself before re addressing the council, "amendment to the previous ruling, councilman Meldane you will proved two seasons of ledgers pertaining to the matter at hand, and access to the facility in the information conditionally provided by councilman Hamilton, is anyone opposed?"
Vance Meldane and Lord Unvale Hemiran both raise their hands, "I'm wholly opposed to the conditions!" Scoffs the cavalcade tiefling Hemiran, "I'm opposed to the entire farce, it's a complete waste of resources!" states the Jasminas human Meldane.
"Opposition outvoted!" Tibus declares as his gavel slams down once more echoing throughout the room.
"Continue with your explanations, thank you" he says directly to the group
"Wow, a lot of big feelings here today." Gewyn chuckles. "I'll provide what clarifications I can on Muir's statement, and hopefully an investigation will sort the rest out. The fruit that we found in the shipment was the same species as the one that had been ailing the survivors of Hokum. But see, I am a man of the people and have my ear pretty close to the ground, yet I've never heard of any condition like the one the Hokumites were suffering. What's more, I invite you to guess where we ended up finding the source of the fruit... Anyone? No?"Gewyn looks around. "We found it planted all around the corrupted portal, practically dripping with twisted magics."He stops pacing and turns squarely to look at the councilors.
"That's not all we found there. We also found several people who had been abducted and brainwashed into doing the hag's bidding. Among them was one who I just realized I believe was largely responsible for growing and supplying many of the more mountainous flowers that Marblestead imports for the production of perfumes. He most likely would have had a JFA stamp on him, and if my theory is correct, the hag may have been using that fact to send her mind-controlling fruit out to other towns and cities to soften them up so her demonic army could wash over us like a red tide." Gewyn gestures dramatically like a wave crashing down.
Tibus squints at Gewyn, "upon that information I recommend we send word to all major towns and cities warning them of the effects of such fruit, and their Jasmina marked containers, the ruling set in place in this stands" In response to Tibus' recommendation Vance scowls.
Taking no notice Tibus continues "Now, you say that you left the town in the capable hands if the leadership, but that the clerics of Hermes were still there? This is curious, we were under the assumption that there was some grand pilgrimage going on. A consolidation of their worshippers... Tell us more of what you saw regarding this."
((IF Sam hears this, seems to be whispering so maybe he does, maybe he don't...))
"To hell with my dominance," Sam snorts. "But I'll be damned it I allow some prissy little dwarf assert theirs over us unchallenged..."
"Hey, tell me," Sam says, grabbing the guards attention and leaning in to talk a bit conspiratorially. "Just what kind of todo do they have set up for us in there? We're being ambushed here, not sure if we're walking into some kind of interrogation or about to be paraded around like crippled vets at the parade... So what do ya know, eh?" Sam is hoping the guard is of the working class mentality and willing to share the details if he knows them.
The guard is not of the usual working class mentality, they seem more regimented and instead stand up a little straighter, whilst being addressed "I am not informed of the type of meeting you will be having sir, my apologies, if you'll all follow me"
The guard leads you down a hallway and into a familiar darkened room, the inside of the main council chamber, the room where you all met for the first time. The table in the center of the room is in the shape of a teardrop, illuminated magically from above. At the point of the drop sits Judge Tibus, the aged tortle who is the highest representative of the Marbled Legion, indicated by the legion's crest permanently painted onto his shell, to his left and right around the table sit the other council members.
Sergor Hamilton, Treasury, a slender full elf with pale complexion, adorned with a multitude of jewellery.
Lord Unvale Hemiran, Cavalcade, a stern and battle scarred tiefling with coal black hair encircling his bright red horns and skin.
Vance Meldane, Jasmina Free-Associates, a modest looking human with shaved head and fine but plain white robes.
Jimmy Connelly, Workers Faction of Marblestead, a ruggedly handsome man who is a little too tall for his Halfling heritage, he wears a crooked smile across his face beneath his unkempt chestnut hair.
and finally, in addition to these council members, Master Goodall, Keepers of the woods, an aged eladrin, wrinkled under years of weather exposure and clad in fine, yet obviously naturally sourced and homemade clothing, she smiles at the group as she sits in the chair that was previously occupied by High Priest Holm the last time the group was gathered in this chamber.
The group see Escan Ironhand, leaving a piece of paper in front of Judge Tibus, before walking out, he gives a sarcastic wink to Sam as he walks past and out of the room, leaving the group alone with only the council members.
The entire council watch as the group enter and take their place standing at the base of the teardrop, directly opposite Judge Tibus and in clear veiw of every council member.
Judge Tibus clears his throat, and begins speaking in a slow, thoughtful and methodical manner "welcome and congratulations on your success, this group has performed the mission set out by this council to a satisfactory degree. We have discussed at length and are all already in agreement that this experiment in the show of unity of all factions of this council shall proceed. Upon the celebration of the winter solstice, we shall present you to the people of marblestead and by extension, the people of Northmorrah entirely, and you will be given the moniker, 'The Peacekeepers of Northmorrah', a group of champions.
Firstly though I should clear a few things up, we have had reports on your success through messages from the leaders of Hokum, along with some contact we believe you have had through magical means with Master Goodall there, we have also employed the use of scrying techniques through one of the accomplished wizards and professor of the Cavalcade academy. That being said our first task on the docket is getting a full and detailed debreif directly from you as a group, then we will get to some housekeeping, which will include the replacement of the abdicated council member Holm, the situation with the clerics of Hermes and their base of Lyvander, and then finally your payment and expectations for the future...
if this is understood then please proceed with the debreif of your mission."
What follows is an expectant silence from the council, all eyes are on the group, with variety of expressions across the their faces; reserved, amused, gentle, severe, and bored, a few shift uncomfortably in their chairs and in the silence. Neferox lays down by Vin's feet and grumbles.
Sam sees Escan drop him a wink and bristles. It agitates and annoys and so when there is finally an opening Sam stands up quickly and speaks.
"Point of order before we begin the debrief and lovefest... You're little Escan Ironfoot there took something from one of us without permission. 'Confiscated' he says. Wanted for himself is more likely the truth of the matter," Sam insists. "You want unity? Champions? How 'bout we start by not stealing from one another?"
Sam takes a moment and looks around and surely he doesn't see a lot of sympathy for his claims but he really wasn't expecting them to just give it back. Not without at least putting some pressure on. "I'm done with this whole business if not. Walking. Going back to my own damn life. I'll not stand up as part of some sham illusion of unity when behind the lies it is all stealing and scamming and taking advantage of one another. So do what you want... But if it's not returned, now, I'm done and leaving."
Sam stands there waiting, not bothering to sit as he won't be in the room long if something doesn't happen.
Jimmy's shoulders sink as he shoots Sam a warning look. Judge Tibus holds up a finger for silence, and lifts up the piece of paper, reading it intently.
After a few moments, he speaks, again slow and methodical, "Escan Ironhand is the overseer for all magical items that come in and out of the city, for regulating the use of magical items and assessing risk.
Items taken; one cursed flesh bag, a soul bag used by fiends for ripping souls out of unwilling victims, it has already been destroyed. Second item, one demonsteel sickle, minor curse, given willingly in the promise of a trade for a blade of similar enchantment level without accursed attributes...
I see here that you yourself, Sam Hall were unwilling to provide any items you may have brought into the city to be assessed." He gives a sigh, and looks to Jimmy and then back at Sam.
"We have standards of practice, and if this kind of resistance at such standards is going to become commonplace, then I question Mister Connelly's confidence in you. Though I do believe that we could have been more forthcoming with our expectations in this matter, your threatening to leave at the first sight of something you disagree with is an egregious overreaction the situation, the consequences of which could result in sanctions for the Workers Faction of Marblestead as a whole. I would recommend that you use your stubbornness on the battlefield Sam, and comply with the little that is being asked of you, for the safety of this city." There are grumbles of agreement throughout the council members, and an amused exhale from Sergor Hamilton.
"How can a people be free when their every decision is in the grasp of another?" Sam asks, quoting Jimmy Connelly from one of his more famous speeches. "How can the masses be free when the sole purpose of their existence is to make profit for others?"
"Or as I would put it: I'll not live a life in which I don't have a say in how it's lived..." So saying, Sam turns and walks.
"Sam get back here and be quiet!" The rest of the council stat silent and some a little wide eyed as it's likely the first time they have heard the cool as a cucumber halfing Jimmy Connelly get frustrated enough to raise his voice, but as Sam looks at the man who brought him here he sees true anger in Jimmy Connelly's face.
"Don't you see, Jimmy? This is what it's all been about from the start," Sam says, a bit of a sigh in his voice, without turning away from the door to look at the man just yet. "The fight. The strife. The struggle. It's never been about higher wages or a day off a week. Well sure, it was but it was also about this... About having a say in our own lives."
Sam turns and looks at Jimmy finally. "'Get back here and be quiet,' you say? Have you forgotten where you are from. Who you are? P'raps you been on this damnable council too long. Your judge here is declare me a champion out of one side of his mouth and demanding I do what he says under threat to the people of the Tangles out the other. 'Get back here and be quiet?' Since when is Jimmy Connelly ever quiet about such a thing?"
Sam starts walking towards Jimmy. Not quickly or threateningly, just walking up as he talks. "Peacekeepers of Northmorrah, but only if we bow to their every demand and inspection? Only if we turn over our possessions, our wills, our souls? They watch us from afar and now put us under a grand inquisition to search for any stray inconsistency? I was unwilling to surrender items for inspection? From some rude dwarf who walked in and demanded our obedience though we knew of no authority except that which he claimed? And turned over or not, did he not already know of each bit and bob I had? Was he not able to inspect their nature without my surrendering them? It is a farce by those in power to remind everyone that their heal is upon the throat of those not in power, nothing more..."
As he stands before the furious leader of his faction, Sam unfastens the Bag of Golden Acorns and drops it on the table in front of Jimmy. "If you want your going away present to me inspected, then by all means call the vile little dwarf over and have him inspect it..."
Sam then reaches into another bag and takes out the Sending Stone he kept in touch with Jimmy with and plunks that down on the table as well. "Remember who you are. Remember where you come from. Remember what your job is... And if you and the council here decide to really be more about unity and working together, feel free to come and get me. You know I will fight for that. But this cow-towing to their demands under threat of..."
Sam turns to look at Judge Tibus with a fierce glare. "Just what are you threatening, judge? 'Cause I already lost the thing I cared about so you got nothing more to take from me. And if you come after the people... Their responded to such once before, didn't they?"
"Anyhoo!" Sam suddenly calls out in a loud and whimsical voice. "If anyone needs me I'll be at the forge. There's real work to do..."
Muir stands there looking at the council members and his companions then to Goodall…..
Gewyn appears nonplussed by the confrontation, and possibly even slightly amused. A markedly different and more confident persona than before. He steps forward and stands exaggeratedly at attention. "The good councilman Connelly has a point. There is no need for Sam to be loud when making noise is literally my profession. My apologies for my companion here. A fine warrior, to be sure, but a practiced story-teller he certainly is not. He started at the end of the tale, where he freely made the CHOICE not to cooperate and present items to Mister Ironhand, which he was permitted to do without violent confrontation, and Elthana made the CHOICE to allow him to depart uncontested with an item she had procured. I do apologize for not educating Sam on the concept of contraband, import laws, and the general idea that part of running any city involves making safety-minded decisions about what comes through the gates. As a representative for a faction that is quite involved in making those decisions, I accept full responsibility."
Gewyn starts to pace. "Now on to the story, which for brevity and clarity will be told in chronological fashion. We made our way to Trundlesten with relative ease and briefly ingratiated ourselves with the locals before resupplying and hitting the road the next morning. That is where we first ran into trouble. In an ambush, we lost both Walker and Gara to malevolent forces. After a difficult battle against a corrupted creature resembling a deer, we met with refugees from Hokum. It is there that we learned that a taint was creeping through a gate between worlds at the behest of the twisted hag who had corrupted the other realm. Not only had she led the army that occupied Hokum, she was also attacking the survivors in their dreams. We then had no choice but to muster forces and spearhead a counter-offensive to retake the city. After that, our small group here continued on into the heart of the mountain to hunt down the hag and cut off the source of the corruption."
"With the hag dead and the portal purified, we made a large donation to Hokum's reconstruction efforts and left monitoring of the portal in the capable hands of the Clerics of Hermes." He takes a breath. "THEN we came back here and Sam alone opted out of the cursed customs inspection. Did I miss anything?"
Once Sam has left, Jimmy sit there red faced and livid, "one stubborn half orc he may be, but he does not speak for my entire faction, that is what I am here to do" he states through gritted teeth.
Judge tibus simply sighs and writes something down, then looks to Jimmy, "be that as it may he was chosen by you to represent this endeavour, you have four days to find his replacement or have him return on better behaviour and with an apology. I have no doubts that master Ironhand can be quite the difficult character to get along with, I know this from experience and I am willing to overlook this outburst based upon the group's recent successes and their just having completed a week's travel coming from the stresses that Hokum must have endured upon them. Is anyone opposed?" The old tortle looks around the group, to the other council members, Jimmy Connelly, Vance Meldane, and master Goodall both shake their heads no, but Sergor Hamilton and Lord Hemiran raise their hands.
"Point of order, I can see the merits to having such an attitude on this group, provided it is not within a leadership role or in connection to any democratic endeavours, this group should be about balance, I'd be willing to accept his return in the basis that the group understands this going forwards." Sergor states, his words carefully chosen and bemused.
"Point of order, the unwillingness to follow orders, the root reason of which lie in upholding the safety of the city, simply for some selfish ego trip makes that man a liability even if he were to return, his reasoning is not a matter of stress, it is an inherent flaw in his own values and ideals... even considering accepting an apology is an act of intentionally destabilising this venture, for those reasons I am fully opposed." Lord Hemiran states rather honestly.
Tibus bangs a gavel on the point of the teardrop table in front of him, just once, the smack of it resonating around the room, "votes against his conditional return are out voted, and point of order have been taken. Now that we have gotten that interruption out of the way we shall resume where we left off, which if you would like to begin the debrief?" The tortle addresses the group.
Used to staying in the shadows, Elthana hangs back a bit as they are all ushered into the council room. Seeing Master Goodall there, confirmed her belief that the Keepers are replacing the Clerics. At least for now, but she was glad as that meant Muir was staying with them. And as Judge Tibus started his speech, he confirms this as well, including all of them standing there, not singling the loxodon out.
But then it starts. She's too far away from Sam to try and stop him from leaving and the shouting between him and his sponsor was not something she would have expected, not the way Sam always talked about Jimmy. She worried what this would do to Sam, he seemed to always look up to the man and now? She hangs her head slightly, the concern weighing on her shoulders.
As Gewyn starts in and very deftly calms the room, she smiles. She may have taught him a few things with the blade, but he could dice up anything with that sharpened tongue of his. She's about to add something when the vote of Sam overtakes the meeting. She breathes a sigh of relief when it is determined he is allowed back.
Elthana clears her throat, steps forward briefly, "I believe that Gewyn just gave a very brief, but accurate account of what happened during our trip. Though, he did forget to mention the accursed giant." she gives Gewyn a little bit of a glare, but softens it and she hopes he knows she is just teasing a bit. She will NEVER forget that giant. "At least he is no more as well." And she steps back to where she was.
Muir not sure if his companions are meaning to keep it brief or not blurts out “Oh and the people slaughtered moving away from Hokum carrying the fruit that make people mindless in boxes stamped with uhhh oh uhhh” Muir pauses and realizes what he was about to blurt out might cause trouble….he continues on…. “I think Jasmina….
Tibus sits in some wide eyed shock before glancing with a cold gaze toward Sergor Hamilton, "I see that the rumours of portals and their heightened activity hold some merit, this is highly concerning..." Looking back to the group he continues.
"I would like you to expound upon a few points, what army was occupying the town under the direction if this hag? What forces did you muster to launch a counter attack? You mention a portal in the mountains of Hokum, correct? Do you know it's 'other realm' destination?
Also explain what you mean by 'fruit that make people mindless'..? The accusation that implies is a large one and will need investigation."
Noticing the cold gaze toward Sergor, she watches him to see how he reacts.
Then redirecting to Tibus's questions, she answers one, "We were able to get some animated trees on our side from a very large tree that came from this portal. They were with us when we launched the counter attack and were instrumental in us getting the upper hand."
She looks towards the door again where Sam left, hoping he would come back.
Outside the Council Chambers:
Sam Hall walks through the halls of the building with a bit of a glower to his face which causes those he walks past to give him a wide berth. For as much as Sam notices he does not have kind thoughts, instead blaming each and all for the messed up system that runs the place. It's all designed to keep those in power in power and every piece and pawn which supports that structure is either too stupid or too lazy to see it... Of they're scrambling to try to eek their way up the power structure, more worried about their own situation than those of the people around them. Feck 'em. Feck 'em all, Sam thinks.
He wonders if guard will try to stop him or not. Part of him hopes they do, he could use a good old fashioned scrap. Another part just wants to get out of this place, to Sam it feels more foul than even the most corrupted places by Rynwell the hag. Really, Jimmy? Backing those people over me? You've changed, my man. You have gone native... Let their ways get to you.
Sam is not stopped and he is soon out of the building and having to spend a few moments figuring out just where the carriage was left. Once done he stalks over to it. As he does he spots someone duck into an alley and head away to the northeast. A short someone. Escan? Sam wonders but he shrugs. He had no real desire to tussle with him. He is an officious jerk and Sam is happy to give him some lip but Sam may be stupid but he's not stupid - He knows one doesn't get to a position such as Escan's without having some power about him of one kind or another. No need to test that further... Sam pauses to pat the horses and say hello - Nice thing about animals, they don't play games or screw one another over. They are what they are. Oh they have personalities and all but their natures are their natures. You learn that and you know which ones may bite, which ones may run, etc... And they don't really change much from that. Anyway... Sam grab his items out of the carriage - Mostly several suits of armor they had picked up along their way and a few odd weapons as well as Sam's personal kit and gear. And then Sam hoofs it back to the Tangles...
It's a long walk and while Sam can often be quite single minded and unthinking, his mind does wander on the journey... He wonders just how bad he made things for Jimmy. He wonders if he really cares. He wonders if the judge's threat of repercussions upon the people of the Worker's Factions were true or not. Sam knew he would feel bad if anything happened due to him but he also knew the people of the Worker's Faction. You oppress a people long enough and you really can't oppress them further, can you? Any additional hardship or injury you lay upon them they were expecting to come at any moment anyway. People so treated know how to lean upon one another, know how to back one another... and know who to blame. They know better than to blame the cornered animal that turns to attack. They know they are all cornered and one bad day away from attacking back themselves.
But mostly Sam wonders about the team... He worries he may have made things harder for them. They're factions will protect them, Sam tries to reassure himself as his shifts the bundle he carries, and mostly believes it. It's a bit besides the point though. He liked them and didn't want to put them in a hard spot. Perhaps he didn't fully trust them, definitely had doubts about them, but he liked them... Strip away the bullshit and they all seemed pretty decent people. He wondered if the team would continue... And how. Would they just be a showpiece for parades to try to show how unified everyone is? Or would the council twist them? A group of the different factions could be a great thing to show to the people... If it was real. If they were really unified. A facade of such... that could be bad. Hopefully...
"There it is," Sam says to himself as he spots the forge. It somehow looked smaller than he remembered but it brought a smile to his face.
"Drawlin!" Sam calls out as he approaches the open doors. "I'm back and I brought something interesting..."
Muir steps forward wand provides a little more detail seeing Elthana distracted by Sam's departure
"The portal in the mountains led to the Faeworld. We met several peaceful Fae from that world including Old Thicket, which was the big tree who helped us take back Hokum. They all wanted to get home and aided where they could. While his awakened trees fought the Hag's Redcaps, we snuck into the cave where she was and defeated her." Muir pauses and looks around to see the council's reactions before continuing "The fruit, if eaten, makes people stop thinking for themselves. They will follow each and every instruction to the letter. They made people mindless. Several of hokum's people were afflicted by this condition, but we think it was a separate incident from the Hag. However, what was concerning for us was traveling back from Hokum we found a caravan ambushed. In the caravan were boxes stamped with the Jasmina logo carrying these fruits....We burned them all under Sam's guidance" Muir added that part to hopefully earn Sam a few points in the eyes of the council.
Tibus listens and takes in all information, the council seem uneasy. The tortle raises a hand to silence any further explanations "Mr Meldane please explain what you know of fruit shipments from Hokum?"
Vance meldane, the white robed, bald headed human sits up, his guileless face remaining unperturbed, "we have several imports of raw materials from Hokum, local rare fruits may well be among them, but I can assure you that if the Jasmina Free-Associates have been making people mindless husks devoid of will. Well the entire city would know about it. We are merchants of luxury and pleasures, not coercion and what sounds a lot like an accusation of some kind of slavery."
Tibus lifts his gavel once more, "you are to prepare the last two seasons worth of ledgers detailing the imports from hokum to each Jasmina facility in the city, is anyone opposed?"
This time Sergor and Jimmy are both quick to raise their hands,
Jimmy speaking up first, the red still filling his cheeks from his champions unexpected exit, "this group has no reason to lie about this, and Sam's misstep aside this proves that his values are based in the protection of this city as a whole. I don't think simply pawing over the books is enough of an investigation to properly figure out where these fruits were headed and how they have been used thus far. I'd like to hear what the Jasmina champion has to say about this."
Sergor seems to chuckle at Jimmy causing the halfling to fund even more, though he manages to keep himself from boiling over. The pale elf leans forward, amused and begins, "For once I find myself agreeing with representative Connelly, and with that I may have some pertinent information here. There is a facility that the Jasmina's own which has gone dark just this past week, time enough for reports of this fruits discovery to have been communicated and a cover up to take place. Now I understand that this is mere conjecture at this point but be that as it may I am willing to provide an address to the facility and the name of the foreman in charge, I will give this information for the investigation and the safety of Marblestead, on one condition...
With or without the apology I want the disrespectful brute to remain on this taskforce, keeping in mind my suggestions..."
Jimmy looks dumbfounded, as does Tibus who collects himself before re addressing the council, "amendment to the previous ruling, councilman Meldane you will proved two seasons of ledgers pertaining to the matter at hand, and access to the facility in the information conditionally provided by councilman Hamilton, is anyone opposed?"
Vance Meldane and Lord Unvale Hemiran both raise their hands, "I'm wholly opposed to the conditions!" Scoffs the cavalcade tiefling Hemiran, "I'm opposed to the entire farce, it's a complete waste of resources!" states the Jasminas human Meldane.
"Opposition outvoted!" Tibus declares as his gavel slams down once more echoing throughout the room.
"Continue with your explanations, thank you" he says directly to the group
"Wow, a lot of big feelings here today." Gewyn chuckles. "I'll provide what clarifications I can on Muir's statement, and hopefully an investigation will sort the rest out. The fruit that we found in the shipment was the same species as the one that had been ailing the survivors of Hokum. But see, I am a man of the people and have my ear pretty close to the ground, yet I've never heard of any condition like the one the Hokumites were suffering. What's more, I invite you to guess where we ended up finding the source of the fruit... Anyone? No?" Gewyn looks around. "We found it planted all around the corrupted portal, practically dripping with twisted magics." He stops pacing and turns squarely to look at the councilors.
"That's not all we found there. We also found several people who had been abducted and brainwashed into doing the hag's bidding. Among them was one who I just realized I believe was largely responsible for growing and supplying many of the more mountainous flowers that Marblestead imports for the production of perfumes. He most likely would have had a JFA stamp on him, and if my theory is correct, the hag may have been using that fact to send her mind-controlling fruit out to other towns and cities to soften them up so her demonic army could wash over us like a red tide." Gewyn gestures dramatically like a wave crashing down.
Tibus squints at Gewyn, "upon that information I recommend we send word to all major towns and cities warning them of the effects of such fruit, and their Jasmina marked containers, the ruling set in place in this stands" In response to Tibus' recommendation Vance scowls.
Taking no notice Tibus continues "Now, you say that you left the town in the capable hands if the leadership, but that the clerics of Hermes were still there? This is curious, we were under the assumption that there was some grand pilgrimage going on. A consolidation of their worshippers... Tell us more of what you saw regarding this."