Follows:
NINETY SIX
(I/C)
“Seriously,” Lannis barked, stepping between the two men squaring off with one another. “This is ridiculous. We don't have time for this, nor do we have the luxury of having an argument in this courtyard.” He looked around, eyes darting through the rainbow ward to Acreage. “While it would be convenient if we could all just drop this and move on, but I doubt the rest of you are rational enough to do that! Failing that I say we just kill Brendon, we put Jowass to the same vote and the circumstances weren’t that different.”
“Listen Magic User…” Brendon began but Lannis continued speaking, words clipped and angry. “This run of annoying decisions has led us to this wholly unpredictably dumb situation. Just let the lizard go. Now.”
“That was THE plan, Senor Lantkiss,” Abraxas snarled.
“Brendon is neither our mother nor our nanny, and it isn't his job to make decisions for us.” Turning to the Scout, Lannis let his hand curl into a fist, staring the scout down. “Brendon, next time you want to countermand a decision the rest of us made? Don't. If you do, don't blame me when "Let's just kill him" comes back up for a vote.”
Brendon shook his head while Kovd stepped up, holding the Scout back. “I’m not eating crow, I stand by my actions. Just because the kobold made puppy eyes at us after he was captured and brought Abraxas back to his memory of wanting to go home? I can’t get over that 10 mins earlier that THING was trying to kill us. We’re in an above ground terror dungeon. We’re here for riches and what does Abraxas do? He gives away a weapon we could use later and it’s worth real coin.”
The kobold shook its head, “Big words human. But YOU tried to slit my throat FROM BEHIND. I answer you in honesty, you reply in lies. When this is all done, I will go home with honor, you will remain here with suspicion. What happens when that one, or that one, or that one,” he pointed at other members of the party, “does something you don't agree with? You cut them down from behind and say it was for the best? I can look at me self in the mirror; you have stained yourself and are an oath breaker and backstabber. You Are A Robert!”
“Enough, Manling.” Kovid said. The dwarf turned to the kobold, “Jowass. You are free to go as agreed. Brendon here, broke your trust, but he also broke ours and there will be consequences for that behavior. I fear they will dire. Accept my formal apology, warrior to warrior and leave this castle without further bloodshed. You were an honorable foe, my kind respect that. Go in peace.”
“Thank you, Dwarf. It was my intention and still is,” Jowass was breathing hard, but the anger in his form was fading.
Brendon scoffed. “Ask yourself this question: Have I ever believed that someone was being truly honest just to find out you were wrong? If it’s never happened then I can understand your reaction. I know Doc was caught up in the moment of feeling for it. Do you remember a few minutes ago when we needed daggers to save Kovid from his melting armor. You may not condone my actions, but to give away items the party might need to survive.”
“You still don’t get it, Robert,” Jowass answered, hands thrown up in disgust. “I could have killed you, and you would have deserved it. I did not. Instead I come here to your Warren, your tribe, and say my goodbyes again. They have seen the ugly inside of you and your ugly actions. Even the elf, known for their brutality and bloodthirst, did not do this. He had honor, you are a cur. You live because I did not kill you. Remember that, pendejo.”
Wyn who had been quiet stepped forward, eyes hard, voice level and measured. “One 'opes ye cen understand dat 'ee was only tryin' to protect 'is team. Dis ees not a matter of 'onor. Like dee rest ov us, Monsieur du Lac... um dat the one dat tried to stab ye... Like de rest ov us Monsieur du Lac made an oath to work with da team en keep dem safe. Like you mayhaps made a deal wit de Grilljax to work fer him as long as 'ee kept you safe. Dat not work out, as Grilljax broke 'is oath by bringin' ye dead back en not lettin' dem pass on.”
“Correct, Master Elf.”
“But du Lac just tryin' to do what he THINK 'is oath was. Scout out po-ten-shal danger... sure, 'ee may 'ave ova reached dat task to dis situation, but dat what he tought he was doin'.” He paused, gathered his thoughts, and continued. “We all make de oaths, Monsieur Jowass. En sometimes it be difficult to balance dem properly. You do not know where du Lac's life took 'im. What 'ee may 'ave lost in de past, what mistakes may 'ave been made, en what mistakes 'ee wishes to prevent in de future.”
“Aye, Senor Wyn,” Abraxas interrupted, “but that goes for all of us, why should Brendon’s thoughts and opinions overrule the rest of the group?”
The Elf paused briefly and then continued talking, struggling to keep his voice even and modulated. “So what oath shud 'ee keep? De one ta you, who 'ee just met, en who previously tried to kill us? Or de one to de team he be livin' en travelin' with for days en days? Iffin' your job was protectin' yer clan... protecting those who you swore under oath to ye name... en you tought one of US was a threat... what would you do in dat situation? Would you just let us go?”
“I’d keep my word as given. All you have is your word, Master Elf. And if your clan, your Warren agrees to do something and you don’t agree with it, you STILL have to put the needs of the clan over your selfish interpretation of what you think is right.”
Wyn shrugged. “I can’t argue. Dis is not de civilized world we be in... dis be de wilds. We all 'ave de oaths to keep, but it be up to you to choose which ones you wish to keep above all odders. Wit dat said, mon ami, as Monseir Dwarfriend stated, you be free ta go. Dat be an oath I give to you. May Nergal's reach stay far from you dis day.”
Lyra shook her head, hand on Brendon’s arm, directing him to resheath his sword. “Trust me, I get it. I’m mad. There was a priestess in that room and I want justice for her. But we agreed in good faith to let him go. He’s been truthful thus far, it won’t hurt to put a little faith in others, even when we don’t want to.”
“Priestess,” Jowass offered. “The bodies in the room where the cloaks are? That is the work of the goblins, Milady. Anyone they find the Roberts beat them for answers and then the Roberts direct the goblin to torture, kill, and mutilate them – putting the bodies in that room.” He shuddered. “They would hack off the hand and foot to prevent Grilljax from being tempted to raise them as zombies, but mutilating people is NOT the kobold way. It is a goblin thing. You die, in battle or old age? We plant you in the ground to make rot for Nergal and food for the next creatures to come, worms, bugs, slugs, then soil, grass, plant eating animals, and then hunters 4 legged or two. It is a circle of Nergal’s will that we kobolds try to adhere to.”
Kovid smiled, looking at Lyra. “So, goblins did that?”
“Si. Not kobolds.”
“Then Lady Lyra, I will gladly help you in your vengeance for the fallen Priestess of Aine.”
“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Brendon whined. “Really? Just going to flat out believe his bullshit?”
“Senor, he has been honest. You have not.” Abraxas turned his back on the Scout and faced the kobold, placing his hand on his shoulder. “This is not who we are. This is not who I am. Deepest regrets Señor Joe-ass, this was not what we had in mind. Lo siento Señor, this is not what I meant at all. I gave you the dagger hoping to help you on your long troubled path home to Jector. “ Turning to face the rest of the party he added, “For basic food and protection.”
“Bullshit,” Brendon muttered.
Glowering at him, Abraxas turned back to Jowass, “No sé a Señor Lakaras would attempt to harm you. He was WRONG for that, even if he feels he was correct by sticking to his oath. He acted against the party wishes. We will deal with that as we have to travel with him and continue our mission.”
Jowass sighed, “I don’t envy you and your problems to come, Senor.”
“Gracias. I regret we are departing on terms malo. I prefer to remember how we left things antes de stabbing. If you had felled him just now, you would have been right to do so in your defense, and yet you showed more mercy and restraint than perhaps any one of us. I will remember this. You have shown me something I can only hope to attain to myself. Again, I apologize, and hope if we meet again, it is in good standing.”
“As do I, mi amigo.”
The two of them shook hands again and Abraxas finished with, “Lo siento Señor, lo siento. Vaya con dios, mi amigo.”
Jowass finished the hand shake, bowed low to Abraxas, and then returned the bow to the rest of the group, with the exception of Brendon.
Wyn cleared his throat, “Safe travels, Monsieur. Just a reminder, iffin you come back to exact yer revenge on us for what just been 'appenin' from du Lac, I tink you might be findin' whedder de elf nightmares you been told be true o not.”
The kobold chuckled. “Worry not, Senor Elf. My time here is done. There is no revenge I would need to exact on that ROBERT, that he has not already done to himself. He has poisoned his own well, shit on his own feet, and fucked himself in the ass with his actions. In your group of six, he will from now on be a group of 1 – part of but not exactly trusted on a going forward by the rest of you. His own actions are revenge enough for me.”
We watched as Jowass strode confidently across the field, elven towel draped across his shoulders, dagger swinging comfortably as he made his way to the shield and then under it, getting lost in the streets of Acreage and then gone.
Lannis cleared his throat, giving Brendon a withering glower. “Now can we please go back inside? Like dealing with children..."
As Wyn discarded the parts of Grilljax in the tomato plants, he rest of the group made their way back to the door, the dynamic of the party subtly shifted as Abraxas refused to make eye contact with Brendon, his back stiff, muscles tense, and face red. And Brendon was marching along as well, staring silently, eyes narrowed, muttering aloud, “so the other dagger we found Abraxas has to save to give to his long lost friend on the second floor?”
“Brendon,” Lyra hissed. “Give it a rest, will you?” She turned to Kovid. “So it wasn’t the kobolds that killed and defaced the bodies. It was the goblins.”
“And you know what I like to do with goblins?” Kovid asked. He bent down, picked up a tomato, and then tossed it ahead of his stride before stomping his boots heavily upon it. “We’ll wait inside for the elf, and then I think we’re going to discuss where to go next.”
Time now is 9:52
(OOC)
Whew! This will I am sure NOT bite anyone in the ass at some point! Good job everyone. Where to now? Scriptorium? Chalk/Classroom? Someplace else?
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