[Game Thread] From the Stone

[Nasrith]

The prisoner wiped away any semblance of emotion from his face as the rest of the party collectively shot down his offer. He didn't even need to be tugged by Nualli, instead keeping pace with her and even offering up a bit of slack on the chain at times. He didn't speak, or even look about him as the group reached the eastern edge of the mountainous passage. "We'n able ta' camp here," Toal called from the head of the group. "Far 'nough out o' the mountains to be safe, but na' close enough ta' human lands ta' be out'er our element. Whad'ya say?"

The grey dwarf prisoner walked easily into camp with the others, appearing utterly defeated in his attempts to free himself. From then on, being free in unknown and untamed human lands was nearly as bad as being a chained dwarf. He plopped himself down on the dirt before the group had even decided on a specific spot to camp. Glaring at him, Toal walked over. "Well'n, which one o' us'll be watchin' 'im ternight?"

[BadBasset]

"I'll take tha' first watch," mumbled Grummgel, the first words uttered by the cleric since their stop on their road early that afternoon. For the remainder of the day's march he'd trailed far behind, his beard occassionaly jerking up and down as he played out his internal dialogue in miserable mutterings. "I d'na think I can sleep this here night, so I may a'well sit up a bit."

Kicking a few stones aside with more violence than necessary, he cast down his bedroll and sat on it, stretching his tired legs in a gesture so obviously empty of relaxation as to make anyone witnessing it feel worse for the experience. Grummgel was far from displaying the hearty determination of the true dwarfish soul: to the contrary it'd take a coin-toss to determine whether Grummgel, or the prisoner he watched, appeared the more defeated.

[Emory]

Nualli hadn't been as talkative during the day after the offer by the prisoner, seeming somewhat subdued, though she still chatted from time to time. For her, the hours had dragged on as they trekked toward the border of the mountain range they all called home. The changing landscape was strange for her still, but she was starting to get past that. More troublesome to her mind, however, was the fact that they were taking a dwarven prisoner to a human town. If he'd been a fugitive in the Duldrus Mountains, why not punish him by dwarven law, in dwarven lands? Even if he had been terrorizing human caravans, he was still a dwarf. Sometimes, the Order's ways seemed draconian and mystifying to her young mind, but for the most part she trusted in the wisdom of those more learned than her.

As they stopped to make camp, she seemed about to volunteer for the first watch once again, but then stopped short as Grummgel beat her to it. "Right, yes. Well, wake me for second watch, then. I suppose I'll get a fire started..." Having said this, she moved to start up a campfire to keep them all warm. As she worked, she spoke idly, "So, have any of you been outside of dwarven lands before? I haven't, personally, though I'd planned to do some travelling eventually. Didn't know I'd be doing it in this capacity, though..." She cast a sideways glance at the prisoner, then shook her head. It'd still be a while before she needed to sleep anyway, so she'd likely end up staying awake, once again telling stories and singing songs to entertain the small group, even Grummgel, who, despite his gruff and solemn demeanor, seemed to have been moved at least somewhat by her voice, before.

[Noobz]

With everyone being less talkative and downcast, Groth surely stuck out like a sore thumb. At first, he just thought he was being a little more captivating today, as he was getting a few more words in than normal, but his ignorance quickly turned to humility when he put ends together and understood the situation. Not everyone, he knew, had the same resolve in Shoggunem that he had, and in fact, were not quite as agreeable about it--as he remembered the incident of shouting loyalty to Shoggunem at the kobold--or altogether disagreeable about it, such as Grummgel. It be rare ta fin' some'ne tha' share tha same fervor as meself., thought Groth, Bu' I dun' like seein' dwarves wi'this attitude.

Groth began to speak of Shoggunem, and his promises of blessing for those who believe even though they also will face hardships. As he spoke, Nualli offered up a little bit of conversation, to which he was thankful; however, he might have inadvertantly closed Grummgel's mouth for the entirety of the day, but he could not be sure it wasn't just because of other factors.

"Ya dun' speak much ma friend, but when ya do, ya've go' somethin' worth sayin', an' I fer one be a-favorin' it.", Groth declares as he looks at Grummgel with a approving smile. True, the encouraging words and smile were mainly for comradery and general morale boosting of the mellowed party, but at the same time, Groth sensed some hurt inside Grummgel. It seemed to manifest visibly as anger, but that just meant to Groth that the issue must be all the more important. One should not mistake it for pity, however, as it is more of a desire of Groth to see his fellow dwarf embrace the hope and love that Shuggonem so freely gives and thereforth find a joy that he seems to be lacking. "Just wake me when ya be o' need o' me."

"I hope ye don' make yerself too terr'bly comfterble there, Grummgel", Groth points out as Grummgel stretches out on his mat. Most likely a poor attempt at humor, but an honest attempt at trying to bring a smile to the disgruntled dwarf's face nonetheless.

Pleased to finally see someone else trying to stir up a conversation, Groth gladly joins in. "Ha, '...in this capacity...'? I sure hope I'm not ruinin' yer first vacation ta tha top world!" Groth exclaims jokingly. "I 'ave ta say tha' I'm enjoyin' it so far. I've been lookin' forward ta puttin' some new dirt under ma feet and breathin' new air, which I mus'say seems very thin ta our stuffy caves. I feel like as if I be gettin' light in the head! Still, it's excitin' ta see is it no'? Tell me, Nualli, ya say ye done some plannin'. Was tha' bein' fig'rative o' did ya actually 'ave somewheres ya had been plannin' on goin'?"

[Emory]

As Groth seems to be much more talkative this evening than the rest of their little troupe, Nualli decides that she'll indulge him his conversation, since the others were not likely to. Not that she minded terribly much; talking helped to keep her mind off of things, and she'd rather talk with the jovial dwarf than sulk in silence on her own. "Hmm?" she peers at Groth when he asks her where she'd planned on going. "Oh. Well, I had read quite a bit about the isle of the lizardfolk, to the south of our continent. As an Oathsinger, I'm a diplomat as well as a warrior. Or, I will be, after this final test is complete. Once I return from this mission, I will be a full-fledged Oathsinger. But anyhow, as a diplomat, I'd be travelling to many places, including the isle of the lizardfolk, since we have trade relations and such with them, though the humans don't know about that. They still consider the lizardmen to be their enemies, or so I hear."

Going on, she continues to speak while starting up the campfire that will keep them warm for the night, though as they proceed into human lands, the nights seem to be less cold. "Tales tell that the humans betrayed the lizardfolk, killed their whole army and ousted them from their home city, taking it for themselves, greedy bastards that they are. I don't know about any of you, but I lived most of my life in Duldrus, and I've met more than a few of their ilk. Some of them have been good sorts, but the greater portion, as far as I've seen, have been greedy, coin-rubbing merchants who'd scam the clothes off your back if they could." Obviously, the Oathsinger has a rather slanted view of humanity. Taking on a more somber tone, she continues, "You know, it bothers me that we're escorting this prisoner to human lands to meet his fate. He's a dwarf, shouldn't he be punished by dwarven laws, in dwarven lands?" She looks over at the chained up, dark-skinned dwarf. "If his crimes were less severe, I'd understand exiling him, but he's done so much. Shouldn't he face a quicker death in his own home?" She shakes her head, then sighs. "Well, no matter. I'm sure the Order has it's reasons for this."

[Noobz]

Not sure what to make of Nualli's remarks about humans, not knowing much about them himself, he decides to talk on what he does know, "It be a shame tha' death be ordained to befall any a dwarf, no matter who kills 'im. A dwarf should die puttin' up a fight, even if 'e's just fightin' old age. However, it was his choice to do what 'as done, an' because of it, 'e 'as givin' up tha' honor." Groth repositions himself a few inches away from the fire. His heavy hair helps keep him warm, but sitting to close to the fire can become sweltering.

"Still, I would never ha' thought tha' we'd be handin' 'im over ta the humans. The dwarf in me says tha' this shouldn't happen, but then I try ta look at it from their perspective. He didn' just kill one human, an' it weren't from no milit'ry command either. It's just plain murder if wha' Grummgel says is true, an' I 'ave 'eard no case against it from the dwarf. And no' just one murder", he reiterates, "but many. If a human ever committed such an atrocity to Dwarvenkind, I'd s'pect I'd wan'ta see some justice be done firsthand too."

After letting out his thoughts, he adds a prologue, "I don' know if tha's wha' you were wantin' ta hear, or if you were just wantin' me ta agree with ya tha' it seems uncalled for tha' a dwarf should be expedited..." he manages to barely spit out that word, and it would seem an uncommon term in his vocabulary, "...bu' either way, I don't like any of this. However, he is at fault, an' I do wha' tha Flame wishes. Doesn't mean we canno' show our sinful brother dwarven a little kinship and courtesy before he meets Shoggunem."

Looking at the newly created fire, Groth's attitude turns from a sort of melodramatic, heart to heart sentimentalism back to a lightheartedness, "I almost dinna notice tha' fire. Well done there, Nualli. All tha' talkin' today 'as created in me a mighty appetite!"

[BadBasset]

"Nae, Oathmistress," a low, hoarse voice issued from where Grummgel sat huddled on his bedroll, "ya set yer words a' dancin' 'cross brittle stone, thinkin' that if they hop they may na' fall. Thar be na' difference 'tween dwarf an' man: both be cravin' gold, an' tha' power tha' comes with gold."

The cleric's voice fell even quieter as he took in the looks of shock and revulsion that greeted his cynicism. In syllables ground through his teeth, as though he did not truly want to continue but felt compelled to do so, he went on: "Thar be but one difference 'tween them: amongst the tall 'uns, so I hear, a piece of gold weighs tha' same regardless o' which hand a'holds it."

"An' I, fer one, am keen ta see tha' human lands. I donna' know how they live, but the human traders in Duldrus did na' look on me a'... a' no less than a dwarf." The cleric sputtered the last words bitterly.

"As fer tha' Order," he turned now to look at Groth, able to meet the warrior's gaze for but a moment before his own eyes dropped to stare blankly at the fire. But still he forced the uncomfortable words out, as though he felt some inexplicable inner need to taunt the companions with whom he'd travelled for the past week; to prove to himself the fact that they were, in fact, his enemies. Glaring with resentment, he finished his rant: "Ya know well enough why thar' a' sendin 'im ta Gohoran... 'es been a'sold fer gold or fer tha' humans' favour. 'Tis na' noble cause: 'es jus' a pebble fallen' from tha cart. Jus' tha same as you 'an me."

[Emory]

Nualli can't help but give the dark-skinned dwarf an incredulous look, before shaking her head in a dismissive manner, laid back atop her spread-out bedroll, her eyes returning to the sky above. "You're wrong, Grummgel. There are many, many differences between humans and dwarves. I don't know what your experiences have been, but I've lived in Duldrus most of my life. I've known dozens of humans, and not a one of them understands dwarven society. They've got no honor. No loyalty. No respect for family bonds or ancestry. You're right about one thing, though, the coin of one human's as good as the coin of the next; It's the only thing they really care about. The average human trader would sell his own mother out for a good price."

Waving a hand up at the dark, star-lit sky idly, the dwarven woman speaks on, "Dwarves have our history, our honor. We don't forget our bonds of loyalty and fellowship so easily, as humans do. Yes, we seek riches, but we don't stab the backs of our brothers to get them." She peers over at Grummgel once more. "You've heard my songs. You've even sung them along with me, man. Humans have no such songs, no great tales of their ancestors. Their heroes are all myths and stories, where ours were real flesh and blood, recorded in the stone." Shaking her head once more, she counters, "Besides, do you think that the humans would treat you with respect in their own lands? You think they wouldn't see you as an outsider? Unless you have enough gold to gild the palms of every human that looks your way, you'd get worse treatment in Gohoran or wherever else than you would in Duldrus or the Delves." She scoffs lightly. "The human lands will never be a home to me, or any lawful dwarf in his right mind."

Shifting to sit up on her bedroll, she continues, "And I don't know what your gripe with the Order is, but you ought not be accusing them of 'selling' a dwarf unless you've got proof to be showing of it. It's not as if the Order needs the gold or the favor of humans anyhow. Further, this criminal is hardly 'just like you and me'. I've never gone about killing farmers and traders the way you say he has. Have you?" She points a finger at Grummgel, almost in an accusing manner. "So what is this great chip you carry on your shoulder, hm? You've obviously been waiting to get this out for the entire trip, so out with it man! If you have something to say, then say it and be done. I'm tired of your constant brooding and quiet glares," she states, her brow furrowing into a scowl. Apparently, the Oathsinger's words could be as harsh as they could be sweet.

[BadBasset]

"Aye: ya know lots a' ol' stories an' songs," spoke Grummgel, still staring fixedly into the fire as though he was speaking to it and not the Oathsinger. "An' I know some o' tha same. But ya don't be knowin' how many stories and songs ya never heard, do ya? Nay: tha ol' ballads 'bout tha great ol' dwarves o' long ago be good enough."

Then, face flushing with anger as Nualli's question echoed to the front of his mind, he spat contemptuously and spoke directly to her: "Nay! I've killed na' dwarf. An', unlike some, I take na' pride in trampin' one to 'is death as we be doin'!"

Turning slightly to face off into the darkness enfolding the dwarves' little camp, Grummgel said, "there be na' point in a'talking 'bout this na' more, an' I'm a' thinkin' tomorrow's to be a long day," and fell silent. The mercurial dwarf's mood had clearly worsened beyond even it's previous low level by the conversation.

[Noobz]

"Aye, it could be a long day tomarra, an' it won' be a good'n; but let me say, it cou' be a great deal worse than ya be a-thinkin'." Groth looks back and forth between his companions, "I dare say no dwarf cou' be happy tradin' off one-a 'is own kind, bu' this'n' made 'is own choices ta end 'imself up here. It be our duty ta be bringin' 'im ta face his consequences. No more, no less. But I'm no' overly fond o' tha humans maself, an' it be a sad duty we carry out, so let's no' dally tomarra." Groth relaxes back and squeezes his forehead between his fingers and thumb, relieving the pressure of the moment, at least from his head.

[Nasrith]

The sun dropped below the high mountain peaks of the dwarven land. Following it in almost a perfect cycle was the Lady Moon, which rose higher and higher in the sky as the group argued. When everyone save Grummgel, who held the first watch, went to rest, emotions in the camp were running high and the intensity was almost palpable, hanging heavy over them in the last of the mountain air. As each of the dwarves fell asleep, they were painfully aware of Grummgel as he sat hunched over, his back turned to the rest of the camp.

OOC I'll need serendipity rolls from Emory and Noobz, which will be used for a bit later. That's just a straight d20, and I use it to decide random stuff that happens to you all. Thanks.

[Emory]

Nualli had accepted Grummgel's unwillingness to talk further, settling herself onto her bedroll for some rest. The Oathsinger was an intense woman, and she didn't mind making others angry, being perfectly willing to call them out on their words, as she had the dark-skinned dwarf, but she wasn't going to press the issue when the opponent was not willing to talk. She knew that there would be more confrontations like this one, and she would have plenty of chances to challenge his words, hopefully with him being more willing to speak on the matter. She still wanted to find out what was gnawing at the man so viciously that he would say the things that he did. Surely, it was more than simple empathy for a murderer who happens to be of the same breed. She was certain of that much...

As she settled into the bare comfort of her bedroll, her eyes turn to the sky, looking up at the myriad stars and the silvery disk that hung, huge and bright, amidst them. Unlike the majority of dwarves, Nualli had spent most of her life under this sky. Where her brethren lived underground and had little reason to venture onto the unforgiving surface of the Duldrusian Mountains, she knew the landscape well, and was familiar with the sky that unnerved many delve-dwelling dwarves, who were used to always having a ceiling overhead. Laying there, staring up at the sky, she began to form connections between the distant points of light in her mind, drawing shapes in the stars. Before long, this idle activity has her drifting off to a light sleep.

Serendipity Roll Dice Roll: d20 19

[Nasrith]

Nualli's light sleeping served her and the rest of the group well this night. Her eyes blinked open only minutes after it had been decided she would wake for second watch. The scene that greeted her proved that there may be no need for that though. Not only had Grummgel not woken her up, but he and the prisoner seemed to have both disappeared. There didn't seem to be any signs of a struggle, however the dim light of the moon would hardly allow a thorough investigation to be conducted, even by dwarves. Around Nualli, Toal and Groth still slept deeply; she seemed to be the only one that had been awake to realize what problem they now faced.

[Emory]

Nualli hadn't dreamed during her short respite, the light sleep offering no images of home to comfort her as they had on nights before. Indeed, her rest was punctuated by fitful shifting and turning upon her bedroll, the dwarven woman getting little in the way of rest. When she awoke to find the camp half-deserted, the prisoner and the dissident priest gone, she was somehow unsurprised. Given his speech the night before, it seemed a likely outcome, but then, she hadn't thought Grummgel to be so far gone at this point that he would betray them all -- and the Order itself in addition.

Don't jump to conclusions, Nualli chided herself lightly. The situation might have seemed obvious, but perhaps something else was at work here. Maybe the prisoner broke free of his bonds and took Grummgel with him as a captive? Maybe the man had associates in waiting, and they'd struck during the night? It was impossible to tell at present, but... A defection still seemed mostly likely, out of the possibilities. Oh, Grummgel, you sad fool, the oathsinger thought to herself ruefully. Perhaps if you'd listened to me for a while longer last night... but now is not the time for such thoughts.

Climbing out of her bedroll and standing, the oathsinger takes a moment to stretch before shouting at her companions, "Waken yourselves, men! Something's happened! Grummgel and the prisoner are missing!" After shouting, she'd move hurriedly over to Toal and Groth in turn, shaking each one if they were slow to awake on their own. In a more quiet voice, she'd muse to herself, "I've no tracking skills... I hope one of these two do, or we'll have failed our mission and lost one of our men. Not exactly a good start for my career..."

[Nasrith]

Toal didn't rise as Nualli yelled, but when he was shaken, he emitted a low groan and tried to swat the dwarven lady away. In a dazed, sleepy voice, he asked, "whad'ya want? Can't be time fer me watch yet?"

Having Emory repeat everything she said when he had at least partially cleared the sleep from his eyes, he responded, "Knew that grey dwarf wasn't ter be trusted. I mights be able ter track'm. Any idea which way they went?"