Logs > Gamma Logs > A Good Painful Kick

A Good Painful Kick

[Riverside Park, Children's Playground]
Craggy boulders create a natural boundary between the park and the Dar-Matheis and skirt a small pond where a group of tiny wooden boats sail by, powered by gentle breezes. A few tall elm trees provide a leafy arbor, as well as a climbing gym for neighborhood children. The neatly trimmed grass lawn is a perfect place to pick wildflowers for weaving into tiny circlets for dolls, or chasing someone in a rousing game of tag.
Obvious exits are down and out.

Your group follows you.
Raeh glances around quietly.
You ask, "No one ever seems to come up here other than children, and if they eavesdrop, who would believe them?"
Raeh nods.
You hoist yourself up on a boulder and sit down.
Raeh grins.
You sip some hot robust coffee from your porcelain mug.
The hot coffee burns the roof of your mouth as you drink it.
Raeh glances around for something to sit on.
Raeh ponders the situation.
You pat a boulder.
Raeh says, "You're far too big for me to sit there as well."
Raeh smiles wryly.
You chuckle.
You stand up.
You bow to Raeh.
You say in Orcish, "Sit, then, I'll pace."
You smile slightly.
Raeh blinks at you.
Raeh narrows her eyes.
You say, "Sit."
You say, "I'll pace."
You swallow some hot robust coffee.
The coffee tastes robust and hearty, awakening your taste buds.
Raeh sits down on the grass.
Raeh says, "I'll take the grass, thank you."
You nod to Raeh agreeably.
Raeh asks, "Was that what I thought it was?"
You say, "It wasn't Haish."
Raeh peers at you.
You say, "Not too troublesome, I hope."
Raeh says, "Now you must tell me what has happened."
Raeh smiles slightly at you.
Raeh says, "Oh no, not troublesome at all."
Raeh says, "In fact the most hopeful thing I've heard since returning."
You nod briefly.
You say, "Good."
You say, "Good, indeed."
You walk over to a boulder.
You lean on a boulder.
Raeh says, "I'm impressed."
You say, "Thus far it has been of little use."
You say, "I got a rather odd note last week while I was in the Tankard with Severin."
Raeh leans forward, listening intently.
You say, "He didn't see me get it, you understand, and thus far he knows nothing of it."
Raeh raises an eyebrow.
Raeh asks, "Does anyone know?"
You nod.
You say, "I'm getting to that."
Raeh says, "Alright, I'll be quiet."
You grin slightly at Raeh.
You say, "No, ask away, I don't mind."
Raeh smiles.
Raeh says, "No, really, I meant it. Don't turn away a blessing."
You laugh.
Raeh grins wryly.
You say, "All right, then."
You say, "I'll shorten it, otherwise we'll be here till Plade."
You say, "This note directed me to the Essence Inn, where I was informed that a certain Scholar Pularynth wished to invite me to a sort of lecture."
You say, "Among those also invited were Sinjinn, via note, and Leyrn."
Raeh gazes intently at you.
You sip some hot robust coffee from your porcelain mug.
Raeh says, "Sinjinn and Leyrn."
You nod to Raeh.
Raeh furrows her brow thoughtfully.
Raeh says, "Go on."
You say, "At this 'lecture' the Scholar and his companion, a woman, instructed us in what you just heard."
Raeh says, "In orcish, if I am not mistaken."
You nod to Raeh.
Raeh says, "I heard Merow speak it quite a bit."
You say in Orcish, "Hail the Talone, as it were."
Raeh smiles wryly.
Raeh says, "That doesn't mean I understand a bit of it."
You say, "Mayhap we can remedy that."
Raeh raises an eyebrow curiously.
Raeh asks, "Do you think?"
You say, "No promises, merely a speculation."
You swallow some hot robust coffee.
The hot coffee burns the roof of your mouth as you drink it.
Raeh nods to you.
Raeh rediscovers her coffee mug on the grass.
Raeh picks up a porcelain mug.
You act: Jurion continues, "Naturally we were curious as to why we had been invited. Sinjinn pressed the woman... J-something was her name, I can't recall exactly."
Raeh swallows some hot robust coffee.
You say, "A blond sylvan, rather disfigured."
Raeh nods to you briefly.
You say, "Finally after the Scholar had left, she admitted to us that in exchange for instructing certain people in that language, the orcs give them free passage and leave to study their customs."
Raeh grins slowly.
You say, "Why we'd been chosen to be so instructed, she didn't know."
Raeh ponders the situation.
Raeh says, "That's the same scholar Merow knew. The same one that taught him, and the same explanation about having leave to study the orcs and their customs."
Raeh ponders the situation.
Raeh says, "And the same one that taught Jayden as well."
Raeh says, "I believe they were both taught at the same time, also. Similar circumstances."
Raeh says, "As with you, Sinjinn, and Leyrn."
Raeh says, "Although lets hope one of you don't have to call treason on the others."
Raeh smirks slightly.
You sip some hot robust coffee from your porcelain mug.
You slowly sip your coffee, enjoying its rich flavor.
You ask, "Why did Jayden learn orcish?"
You ask, "Do you know?"
Raeh peers at her porcelain mug.
Raeh taps her porcelain mug.
Raeh says, "I'm not certain, but.."
You act: Jurion laces his fingers around his porcelain mug.
Raeh says, "I think he was possibly planning to do something along the lines of helping the orcs."
Raeh says, "I don't think he ever had the chance though."
Raeh says, "Not before Merow threw a wrench in everything."
You say, "Pity for him. I'd have turned him in myself before all this happened."
Raeh smiles wryly.
You say, "In fact, I probably still would, given the chance."
Raeh asks, "Did you know him very well?"
You say, "Not especially, but what I did know I disliked."
Raeh chuckles.
Raeh nods to you.
You say, "He took up with the Captain after she returned from Rosewreath."
You say, "Went out of his way to let me know where I stood, that sort of thing."
You wave your hand disinterestedly.
Raeh ponders the situation.
Raeh asks, "Rowen?"
You nod to Raeh.
You swallow some hot robust coffee.
Raeh says, "I think I heard something here or there about that, long ago."
You say, "I suppose she was court-martialed. She left the company, at least."
You say, "That's neither here nor there, thankfully."
You act: Jurion makes a slight face.
Raeh asks, "So is there anything else?"
You shake your head at Raeh.
You say, "I don't know what learning orcish bodes for me."
Raeh asks, "Have you thought about the agreement we made in Never?"
You say, "It's not as if I've been approached by anyone regarding anything."
You nod to Raeh.
Raeh glances around briefly.
Raeh says, "I come back, to find these people in more disagreement than when I left."
Raeh says, "Jurion,"
Raeh gazes intently at you.
Raeh says, "Merow died for absolutely nothing."
You act: Jurion returns Raeh's gaze levelly.
Raeh says, "He wanted to unite the people, a last resort. And now look."
Raeh says, "I hear of houses battling, power struggles, even worse than before."
Raeh shakes her head disgustedly.
Raeh says, "I am sickened by it.."
You say, "Murder in the streets, chaos among the guard, and no word from the Prince."
Raeh says, "And I am furious. Furious."
Raeh asks, "The death of a man like him should have made a difference. What did his life mean?"
You say, "No one cares."
You say, "And those who take note merely curse his name."
Raeh says, "I am more committed to giving this city a good painful kick than I was two weeks ago."
You ask, "Hurt it in order to heal it?"
Raeh broods.
You raise an eyebrow.
Raeh glances at you.
You say, "Because, quite frankly, I should rather cut its throat."
Raeh smiles coolly at you.
Raeh says, "That sounds about right."
You say, "Ah."
You smile mirthlessly at Raeh.
You say, "I'm glad we understand one another."
You swallow some hot robust coffee.
Raeh says, "I don't think this city can be healed."
Raeh says, "I don't care if it can."
Raeh says, "Enough has been sacrificed to try."
Raeh swallows some hot robust coffee.
Raeh stares bitterly off into the distance.
You act: Jurion turns his ring around his finger.
Raeh shifts her weight.
Raeh narrows her eyes.
You say, "As of yet, I have no clear idea of our course."
Raeh says, "Now the question is.. that. How to do it."
You swallow some hot robust coffee.
The hot coffee burns the roof of your mouth as you drink it.
You drain your porcelain mug dry!
Seeing that it's empty, you set your porcelain mug aside.
You nod to Raeh.
You hoist yourself up on a boulder and sit down.
Raeh says, "We've a few choices."
Raeh says, "One, we can work on our own. Sort of like Taqe's emmisaries."
You chuckle.
Raeh says, "Create as much confusion as we can. That can be fairly destructive."
You say, "Xelian and I had a long discussion about Taqe a few weeks past."
Raeh says, "But just not quite as satisfying as I wish."
Raeh bites her lip thoughtfully.
Raeh nods to you.
Raeh says, "I've always been very fond of Taqe."
You say, "She's pleased that I'm interested in taking up the faith."
You say, "On account of our work with the temple, of course."
Raeh says, "Not that I'd ever tell anyone of my faith. Except those I keep in close confidence."
Raeh says, "Merow never even knew. Of course, it would have only made him more nervous."
You nod to Raeh.
Raeh shrugs.
You ask, "What other courses of action do you see?"
Raeh says, "A plan would be best."
Raeh says, "If there were a way to coil a rope around these people."
Raeh ponders the situation.
Raeh says, "Without their knowing, and then ... hmm."
Raeh says, "There are few tools we can use, Jurion."
You say, "You and I have some small reputation."
Raeh says, "One is the orcs."
Raeh asks, "How do you feel about the orcs, Jurion?"
Raeh smiles slightly.
Raeh says, "Now that you have learned of their language, you know."
Raeh says, "Almost like a cultural study."
You say, "I loathe them."
You say, "I would not be entirely displeased if they were to be wiped off the face of Thrael."
Raeh chuckles.
You say, "However, I find their goals coincide with mine, so..."
You act: Jurion lifts his hand and lets it fall.
You say, "And at the moment I loathe the citizens of our fair city a bit more."
Raeh asks, "So you wouldn't be against using them as a tool, or even aiding them to take Kaezar?"
Raeh peers at you.
You say, "Not a bit."
Raeh grins slightly.
Raeh says, "There's one tool."
Raeh says, "There is another."
You say, "I haven't any desire to go and live with a nice orcish thrall, but if I could walk away with the city in flames, that would sing nicely."
You stand up.
You ask, "Let's speak more of this later, hm?"
Raeh nods to you.
Raeh gets back on her feet.
Raeh brushes some dust off of her arm.
Raeh swallows some hot robust coffee.
You walk over to Raeh.
You grab Raeh by the arm, motioning for her to follow.
You say, "I mislike staying too long in one location."
Raeh agrees with you.
Raeh says, "It is a good idea."
Raeh smiles at you.
Raeh says, "You are good."
You raise an eyebrow in Raeh's direction.
You say, "In what way?"
Raeh says, "Maybe I'll save it for another time."
Raeh grins slightly.