Burnt Offerings (Play)

[Krensky]

The townsfolk seem slightly confused by Weox's speech, but also seem to warm to his display and accept his apology, even if they're a bit fuzzy on what he's apologizing for.

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Roll is 29 vs 20. The crowd's (call it the whole town for simplicity) Disposition rises to +9 and then drops to +6 at the end of the scene.

Downtime:

Argan gains 1 Rep from Downtime.
Shyla gains 0 Rep from Downtime.

Anyone else making a Downtime check?

[Catodon]

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lets call the giant’s roll for the speech a downtime roll for reputation.

[Catodon]

After the speech walking home “Argan Dain” the giant acknowledges the ‘big man’. “I know your traditions are not mine but you are better behaved than some humans, willing to use your strength as a shield and have your own blood spilled. Even now you place the strength of your reputation to shield my shame. I have judged you too harshly. If a face tells the truth then the veil you wear now is not the lie but demon beneath.” The giant turns and look long into Argan’s eyes. He places a hand on the warrior’s shoulder “Paiter is ‘under my hand’ but there is talk of a tunnel. Will you place him under your protection?”

Weoxgyld seeks out Shyla.This is before Shyla's revelation. The giants face wears a grim expression but there is a warm twinkle in his eye. When He speaks it is in a businesslike tone.
“You are willing to have your blood spilled in defence of your hosts and we fight well together. However you are still not a warrior. Your words are oft disrespectful like a child. Such behaviour does not become a warrior. A warrior knows that they are a danger, that others are threatened by their anger. A rogue fighter cares not. You are reckless; warriors may mistake unkind words as the onset of an attack. I will fight at your side without wavering but you would do well to reel in your tongue. Do this and I would be proud to mark you as friend.”

The giant seeks out Divia “You have the heart of a warrior and your care of your sister is noble. You are almost worthy to stand beside me but for one matter. Not yet do you ken when it is the time for measured words and when there comes the time for wrath. Futile anger and disrespectful words are unbecoming for a civilised adult, double so if that adult bears the burden of Strength be it that of a warrior, of status, or great riches. Perhaps living among these rude mortal barbarians with fleeting lives has made you think you are mature. While you let your anger bleed out you are mistaken” The giant's tone is of an older man offering advice, even Divia cannot detect a tone scorn in the firm words.

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I'm sure Divia will have something to say about this  

[Catodon]

Weoxgyld concerned for his employee gives Paiter the last of their money to buy what he needs for the tunnel. Paiter thinks “What I need is a good blowout dinner and a stiff drink. I'm too old for grubbing about in dank holes”

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Candles
Oil, pint
Bandages
Smelling Salts
Spirits (Gin)

...and a big curry
Consumes a spiced Comfort food before leaving +2 Will
1s left which he carelessly looses during his night out.

[Catodon]

At Shyla’s big revelation: Weoxgyld listens carefully a great furrow appearing on his brow as Shyla’s words spill out. At first unconcerned, Paiter takes a step back and watches his employer’s face carefully. The giant speaks “It seems the world of mortals is not as I had heard in the sagas. I am beset by angels and demons, many fair elves have fallen, veils and lies are thick as herring.”
“Much is clear now. The foul murk of your blood must be ever luring you to evil. That you spill only ill words is a mark of your restraint. Yet there are others who hold fast the tiller and behave well against the currents of their own doomed blood.” The giant looks at Argan, then back to Shyla. Then before objections can be raised “Know though I stand by my words of yesterday, I will fight by you. If you reel in your tongue I shall mark you friend. Hark unto me for I will say this but once; my shield lies over this town, do not let sharp words lead to spears.”

A worried looking Paiter shrugs as if to say ‘what can I do’.

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Now the big man has had his say he should be less obtrusive...at least until someone directly attacks the town.
Weoxgyld lives under misunderstandings about demonic heritage, as a player I know that in this world demon tainted blood does not automatically lead to evil but the giant does not. He has been told by Paiter but does not yet believe it. Give him a smidge more time and he'll come around 

[paddyfool]

After the speech walking home:  "I can certainly watch out for him for you," says Argan, while privately making a note to consider the tactics of who in the party would appear to particularly need protection.  "And, ah, thank you for the compliments, and for doing me the honour of charging me with this responsibility."

At Shyla’s big revelation: Argan looks deeply uncomfortable, and tries to step in between Shyla and Weox before trouble can start:  "That comparison is unfair, Weoxgyld.  To stand in judgement in this way is unwarranted.  And if we squabble amongst ourselves, we can do little to protect this town."  At the same time, a small troubling voice in the back of Argan's mind still pipes up to remind him that the fundamental nature of Shyla's heritage is different to his, but he tries to ignore it.

[foproy]

speech
"that was rather more boring than i expected" alden says lightly to teo as he turns stretching and yawning to walk away"
revelation
alden lifts himself up eye level with the giant as he says"I cannot believe you alden says scolding the giant, you call yourself noble born, raising your voice to this young lady in public such as it is, you speak of people needing discipline and to control their tongues, yet in the same sentence i see you acting as a child. tempers such as that get people killed on the battlefield and perhaps you need to learn some discipline before you go pushing it off on others." and as far as the heritage of these to go, they have shown no tendencies against this town and i shall stand by them until they prove otherwise."

[Mister Andersen]

After a little while, Divia leaves Ameiko in Beth's company. Taking Annie, she leads her out onto the darkened streets and the two of them make their way back to the glassworks with the intention of checking in on the guards stationed there. The half-elf does her best to avoid attention and the recognition it brings. Even so a handful of people still spot her — or more accurately, her and Annie in their distinctive coats — and call out greetings or expressions of goodwill for her part in the town's most recent defence. Entering through the northern doors, Divia exchanges nods with the militiaman stationed at the top of the stairs. All the internal doors that Divia can see have been thrown open to maximise sightlines, and there are lanterns lit everywhere to chase away the gloom and the threat it presents to weak human eyes. Looking into the workroom she can see all the bodies have been removed, including the glass-encased corpse of Ameiko's father. Without anyone to tend it, the furnace too has been left to die down. They descend into the basement to the sound of scraping stone and hushed voices. Turning left at the bottom of the stairs, they round the bend to find a militiawoman standing guard outside the room with the tunnel, a loaded crossbow propped up against the wall next to her. Inside, two burly men and a dwarf are using the stone salvaged from the original sealing of the corridor to erect a thick wall around a heavy iron door at the mouth of the tunnel. Through the space they have yet to fill, Divia can see torches and some caltrops littering the floor of the tunnel for some twenty feet. "Not taking any chances, huh?" Divia asks softly, dropping into the dwarvish tongue, taking comfort in its solid cadences. The humans just shrug and get on with their job. "Aye," the dwarf answers similarly. "This is my best lock in my best door. Once it became clear what was in that bastard's book, the Mayor got us on to the job lickety split to do something until you big damn heroes are ready. My, but you're far more wee than I'd expected." "Divia is not wee!" Annie protests, also in dwarvish. "She's big and brave!" One of the humans makes an irritated shushing motion as the protest echoes into silence. "If she's going to be like that, get her out of here," he grunts in a low voice. "It's not like we've got a veil of silence or anything." "Sorry," Divia apologises in the common tongue. "Come on sweetie, let's go." Using Divia as a shield, Annie sticks her tongue out at the masons as the two girls return to the corridor and the bemused expression of the guard. "Guess this means you're stuck with the giant when we go in there," Divia mutters. "Better him than demons," the militiawoman answers, crossing herself at the thought of what lies beyond. "You can reason with demons," Divia shoots dourly over her shoulder * * * The next day — where in certain members of the party take it upon themselves to question Tsuto about the plans he and he allies have laid against the town — Ameiko spends quietly pottering around the Dragon, building up the courage to begin confronting the reality of her father's death and her brother's other dark deeds. At first, Divia hangs around trying to help out, but it soon becomes clear that her friend finds the attention oppressive and the snarky former urchin is surprised to find the revelation claws at her heart. Making hurried awkward excuses, she flees with Annie to the stables next door to give some attention to Tadpole. The simple task of combing the doughy pony's coat and feeding him brings such a look of rapturous joy to the little automaton's face that for a moment Divia forgets Annie isn't real. Well, what some people would consider real. Every time Divia looks at her, she knows what Annie is, intellectually, but emotionally... emotionally, Annie is the only family she has now, and she'd kill anyone who tried to interfere with that. When they finish with Tadpole, the two of them set out for the opposite side of town and the Curious Goblin, yet again seeking to avoid attention and not entirely succeeding. A complaint from Annie about their circuitous route invites the response to treat it as a game. I'm not cut out to be a parent! she silently protests, but the thought vanishes almost as soon as she has it. "Well hello there!" the venerable Chask Haladan greets them as they enter his store to the accompaniment of the silver bell over the door. He favours Annie with an avuncular smile. "What can I do for you today, young Divia?" "Demons," she answers, noticing the town's sage sitting on one of the reading chairs. Quink is clearly a man of learning and even better he knows the dwarvish tongue, but for all he might be able to help her discover about Annie his desire for recognition wars with her own to minimise her and Annie's... exposure. "There's meant to be a quasit underneath the town, or what, um, the reckless fool thought was one. Best to be prepared." "A quasit you say?" Quink pipes up, setting aside his book. "Fascinating..." * * * TBC...

[Mister Andersen]

It's midafternoon before Divia and Annie return to the Dragon and receive the note left with Beth announcing the gathering at Weox's shack. She doesn't see any sign of Ameiko, and not wanting to intrude any more than she already has, Divia ignores her desire to the contrary and doesn't ask after her. It is a mark of her turmoil over Ameiko that, this being the first time she has lain eyes on the giant since the incident at the glassworks, she fails to launch into the harsh reprimand he deserves. Perhaps it's because a good day after the battle of the glassworks, even with the gods-touched aid of the town's healers he still looks unusually... fragile. At first, the meeting goes smoothly enough. Information obtained from Tsuto is shared and used to illuminate that taken from his journal. Divia follows with what she's managed to glean from the great minds of the town on the subject of their purported demonic foes, the reasonable expectations as to strengths and weaknesses. Teo, looking wan, describes his ongoing efforts to glean the nature of the artefacts recovered from Tsuto's lair. She notices that the whole time Shayla seems ill at ease, shooting glances at Argan's handsome faux-visage, and she almost asks her about before deciding not to place any undue pressure on her ally. But then, afterwards, Weox takes the pirate to one side and says something that almost seems to send the human fleeing. And then he addresses her. "You have the heart of a warrior and your care of your sister is noble. You are almost worthy to stand beside me but for one matter. Not yet do you ken when it is the time for measured words and when there comes the time for wrath. Futile anger and disrespectful words are unbecoming for a civilised adult, double so if that adult bears the burden of Strength be it that of a warrior, of status, or great riches. Perhaps living among these rude mortal barbarians with fleeting lives has made you think you are mature. While you let your anger bleed out you are mistaken." The giant's tone has all the natural unthinking arrogant superiority of someone who considers themselves nobility. "Back off, pincushion!" she snaps, forcefully unballing the fist she's unintentionally made and instead jabbing a finger towards him. "Your gross stupidity and your inability to restrain yourself risked the lives of everyone yesterday, not to mention sullied the honour and reputation of our friend and ally! We were on a search and rescue mission to find Ameiko and discover the threat if any this town was under, and your jumping onto the rooftop and flinging lightning bolts with reckless abandon completely destroyed any hope we had of achieving those ends with minimum risk. You alerted Tsuto and his minions to our presence, and may well have given him enough warning to flee into the tunnel and rouse the creatures at its end to action. It's a fucking shame that the stroke of luck we had that he chose to fight instead of run wasn't a little broader and you weren't left to bleed out from all those arrows he again managed to stick you with! Make no mistake, it was Weox the adult who failed his allies and those he so nobly placed under his protection just so he could show off his righteous fury and carve a name for himself in blood to take back to his father's hall. Think on that, and maybe then you'll be worthy of the high bloody opinion you have of yourself! Until then, I don't think any of us want to here a single fucking peep out of you." Taking Annie by the hand, she storms off back to the Dragon, quite unable to believe she's let loose like that but finding she regrets none of it. * * * TBC...

[Catodon]

Regarding Shyla
Weoxyld listens intently to the two men “You are right Argan Dain if we argue we cannot stand together. Your words are measured in a manner befitting a warrior and your point is well made, but an asp wants to bite that is its nature. The actions of Shyla of the Silver Gaze speak well for her restraint. I spoke out of duty, ‘a word can keep a spear by the hearth’. I have made it clear I will not speak of this again.”

The giant turn to regard Alden. There is a tell-tale scent of ozone but the giant’s tone is even “You are twice mistaken Alden Smith, I am Stormborn not noble, my people are born free and grow mighty, your misunderstanding is natural. I did not raise my voice, my words were firm, perhaps it was my size... That you compare my actions to a child borders on unbecoming disrespect, but I accept that you speak as you have seen. Restraint has its place agreed, but in the face of so much blood, of hosts so terribly wronged, wrath is becoming the Strong. To hold back is a respect the enemy did not deserve. To walk among such evil in measured paces like moving pieces on a mere game is strange to me. There is much here that makes little sense. At least we agree to stand by our fellows in arms unless they break our trust”

[Catodon]

The giant watches Divia leave and shrugs “What more can I do? I have responded to impolite behaviour with a firm guidance. To insult your host in his home…” he shakes his head sadly “Diva Mal has said much in her outburst that makes little sense. How could Ameiko’s reputation be stained? She has done no wrong. If not for our swift action drawing the villain out what more evil may he have done? Better that I take arrows than others who may have been slain by so many. She knows not Weoxgyld nor Weoxhrothsten my Father. I have failed my hosts though. Perhaps my Father is right, maybe it is best if the Mighty do not meddle…but what then for Sandpoint?”

[foproy]

you are impulsive, and quick to act, and while in some situation can be a good thing, if i call you a child it is because you act as one both on the battlefield as witnessed at the glass works, and in voice as we have scene here today. so before you go talking to someone about discipline, especially one who has shown a great deal of it before me, mainly in overcoming her own nature to become what she is today, instead of growing up to become some entitles self righteous child, and before you try that little show again i suggest you think about what myself and argan have said to you today.

[paddyfool]

"Enough of this maudlin bickering!  None among us is a monster or a child.  What we are is the best hope this poor blood-soaked town has got, and right now we're flapping our jaws to no good purpose.  I think it's time that we went for a drink and to plot out how to deal with our real problems on the morrow.  And if anyone wants to waste any more time on this nonsense, just remember what we saw in the glassworks.  That's what we're up against, and what we have to focus on putting an end to right now."

He pauses a moment for breath, then finishes by extending an arm to Shyla with a simple "Shall we?" and turning to walk back to town.

[Catodon]

The giant coughs. His face is thoughtful.
“I agree I could use an ale,… but I beg your patience a moment longer and then perhaps we can toast our fellowship in clear air.
You speak as you have seen and so I will choose not hear disrespect in your words. You all see me as childish but yet do not ken that I see many of you as children. I see now the depth of all our misunderstandings.
I have upheld polite behaviour and in the eyes of my people have behaved properly while all around me people spill disrespectful words, fail to address each other with respect, raise their voices, enter unannounced like thieves, and are not properly outraged when faced with great evil. I see myself in a nation of children who know not proper behaviour.
I see now that proper behaviour is not in plain sight, that your standards are not those of my people. If my actions and words are confusing to you I beg your patience and that you keep in mind that I see a land of confusion. I will hold my tongue and seek to ken your way of war. I but ask you try to see that I will not always act as you think proper not because I am a child but because my ways are not yours.”

“Now then ale?”

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Weoxgyld will meet with those not present, including Divia, and convey a similar message to them.

[foproy]

i believe i can accept that offer, please understand good sir giant that you are expecting of peasants formalities of human nobles. these are simple folk, who don't have time for such frivolity as they see it.