[HQ Ignorance] Re : Re : Scene 71: Desperate Measures

[Lev Lafayette]

On Fri, 2008-10-03 at 10:39 +0000, Loran wrote:
> Quite irritated, Azhur remembered the tales of the
> savagery of the vadruli wolf-pirates and muttered in his mother language:
> - « We can wonder why the bloody lunar empire
> keeps wanting to conquer such a stupid, violent and stubborn population… I know
> a bunch of people who would only see here the effects of heavy consanguinity
> among isolated mountain dwellers…”

Orlanthi country folk?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wroj0FLvzs

 
> But he looked at the desperate and famished peasants
> and then charity made him sigh and soften a little his tone:
> - “… but perhaps anyone in these fearful times will
> be deaf to his own reason and will let his emotions drive him even if the
> resulting demeanor is fully illogical.”
>  
> 
> He turned to Minaryth Purple and asked him with an
> icy voice in a simplified version of the western tongue:
> - “Well this is obviously the so self-praised but
> hardly rumored generosity of the Orlanthi.

Minaryth seems to share Azhur's concerns... "Well", he tries to explain,
"they do have a reputation to maintain."

>  I wonder what you were really
> meaning when you told us that we will not succeed to go through Dragon Pass
> alone ? Were you implying that your wild people will assault us without any
> respect for the common hospitality rules? If the wind people respect only strength,
> remind them that red is also the color of everyone’s blood here, that anyone
> attacking us will deserve a swift countermeasure from our side and that our
> western magic still works… ”
>  
> While Minaryth was trying to think about a way to
> translate these angry words into a more acceptable message. Azhur turned to his
> men.

Minaryth continues to try to make the Orlanthi see reason; he is having
some success among the cautious, but the Storm Bull, who seems to have
some leadership among the refugees, will have none of it. The Telmori
are tainted by chaos and all chaos must be destroyed. 

> To his squire, he asked:
> - “Othor, do we have some rations left that we can
> share with the weakest ones of the crowd?”
>  

The ever-loyal Othor, from good peasant stock, nods and brings out the
rations. One cannot help but suspect that he is bringing out more than
he can afford.


> To his weapon trainer, who was from
> Dragon Pass (score 13), he asked:
> - “SwordSinger, do you fell comfortable enough  to translate my word to the leaders of this
> angry mob?” 
>  

The eloquent SwordSinger is a far superior debater than the Storm Bull,
and describes the Telmori as victims of the taint of chaos who have
decided to fight alongside the Orlanthi in the hope of removing their
taint of chaos. This sways the rest of the Orlanthi - except for the
belligerent Storm Bull who demands to engage in single combat with the
protector of the Telmori. He says he would prefer to die under Lunar
rule than ally himself with such an offense to the world itself.

(success, 13 vs failure 18, minor victory)

> An finally to the knight Aarolin, he remarked:
> - “ By the way, Aarolin, have you seen our vegetal
> companion, Icthya, since her arrows were flying in the sky?”

"Aye", says Aarolin sadly. "The Lunars took her; we gave chase but they
formed a wall and used their magics to escape. We know not where she
is."

(success 8 vs failure 18, minor victory)

>  
> 
> [OOC]
> Befriend and pacify angry barbarian peasants
> - From “Befriend Farmer Caste” 17 (perhaps modified
> because they aren’t exactly from a malkioni farmer caste ?)

I'll be generous and let you have that at -5

> Augmented with :
> - “Mix Easily with Other Castes” 17/+2 (Ok barbarians
> aren’t an ‘other caste’, but at least Azhur isn’t stuck in simple scheme of
> reaction as any other malkioni caste member could be)

No to that one.

> - “Command Inferiors” 18/+2 (Clearly here: peasants
> on foot against noblemen on horses)

OK

> - “Convince others” 15/+2 (“We aren’t lunars”)
> - “Protect the Poor” 13/+1 (They seem miserable)
> - “Charitable” 17/+2 (Azhur is sincere)
> - “Honorable” 17 (Azhur will keep his word)
> - “Intrepid” 19 (Azhur is bold enough to
> dare speaking to them)
>
> and perhaps a bonus if some bread can be found by Othor?

A bonus based on wealth

OK; 1W3 all up. Roll 8, failure, but bumped to success. Resistance
(suspicious of strangers, hate chaos etc, roll 2, success, marginal
victory to the Orlanthi opposition).

Whilst most are swayed at this point to go along with you (these are
desperate times and you are the presence of one of the members of the
Iron Ring), they also approve of the call of their Storm Bull leader.
They want to see the fight between the Storm Bull..

... and Karala, leader of the Telmori.