Zion: Light of the New Moon Part 2, Ch 1.4 Shrad
Zion - Light of the New Moon, Part 2 Chapter 1.4
Shrad Through the Bahn
The travelers from Shrad take advantage of this opportunity for commerce, and decide to purchase a slave! Let's take a look and see how this turns out for them. The current modifiers for this Event Arc are as follows: + Delay, and - Favor, but this may still be subject to change.
"It won't be a big deal." Nori argued, running a paw across the head of his gigantic hammer, "I'll go into the tent, bam bam bam and the issue's dealt with."
"For the tenth time, you cannot kill them." Shadow argued, "They are citizens of Shrad and, no matter how despicable they are, killing them would be murder."
"I thought murder isn't that big of a deal in Shrad." the ferret countered, scowling as he put the weapon away.
"We just need to be patient." Tolen offered comfortingly, "Negotiation done right is not a fast action." the healer set his paws in his lap as he looked to Nori, "With any luck he will be able to bargain for the freedom of a slave or two."
The Wild Lander snorted, "We should have exercised our right to take them." he punched his fist into his own palm with a grunt, "We could save them all."
"We have no representative from the temple." Shadow offered with a sigh.
"We have Loric... we have Tollie." the ferret motioned to the impassive hyena.
"Loric is a noble and Tollie is..." Shadow glanced to him then back to Nori, "...not part of the temple."
"He's carrying a Divine Shield and he can speak with the Goddess or whatever... that should be enough to convince a bunch of slavers." Nori pressed.
"Look-" Shadow noted, his muzzle clicking as he bit out the syllable in annoyance, "I agree, alright? Nobody should have to be a slave, but we can't just take them all because we want them."
"Why not?" asked the ferret, "That's pretty much how things are done in Shrad, isn't it?"
"We can't risk the injuries." Shadow countered.
"They are bargaining in good faith." Tollie suddenly spoke up out of the blue, raising his head from his paws for the first time since the groups separated.
"I'd better hope so." Shadow smirked, "Between Sten and Gaerid I don't think they would have much of a chance to do anything but."
"Their Blade Slave would put up a great fight to protect his masters." Tollie offered.
"One dog against Loric, Sten, and Gaerid and that dog of his?" Nori inquired, "I don't think it would be a fair fight."
"We don't know what the slavers themselves are capable of." Shadow reminded the young Wild Lander.
"Olahg was born in Shrad. He lived an easy life as the favored son of a prominent businessman and used the fortune of his family to start in the slave trading business once his father died. He is no warrior, but he is tenacious." Tollie explained.
"See?" Nori pointed out, "NOT a warrior."
"Gidden was a Wild Lander born into slavery but nobody knows this." Tollie continued, "He escaped when he was young by killing everyone in the estate, slaves and household alike." the hyena spoke calmly, and without any sense of judgment to his words, "He had no weapons, so he tore out every throat he could find with his teeth."
"Significantly less comforting." Shadow mumbled.
"Except they probably weren't expecting it from a cub..." Nori pointed out, "and he probably did it when they were asleep."
"He escaped into town and grew up on the streets and was adopted by Olahg." Tollie continued, "He chose to inflict slavery on others to get back at the world for his own servitude believing that people should be forced to find their own freedom."
"He sounds... unhinged." Tolen murmured, "Poor man."
"He is." Tollie acknowledged, "In many ways."
"Well, oh great and glorious seer..." Nori smirked, "What about the last one? What about the bat?"
The hyena shrugged, lowering his head once again, "I do not know."
"You don't know?" the ferret asked, ears going up, "Come on! You're some kind of psychic... you're supposed to know things about everyone."
"Like how you wished your brother had been your first, but was not?" Tollie asked, not bothering to look up.
"What?!?" Nori's tail stuck straight out, puffing up in surprise.
"First what?" Tolen asked, cocking his head to the side, "Nori, do--"
"SHUT UP!" Nori shouted, standing up and storming out of the tent indignantly.
Shadow turned to regard the hyena, "Did you mean what I think you meant?" The hyena didn't answer, so the wolf pressed the issue, "Did you sense that Nori wanted to.... take his brother... to bed?"
"If I did sense such a thing I never would have spoken it around others." Tollie noted, head still down, "Such a reveal of inner thoughts or desires would be reprehensible." he slowly stood, "No... Nori has long-since wished that he would have a chance to prove his talents in the Wild Lands to his brother, but his brother has found city life to his liking. He has always wanted to guide his brother, but has never had the chance."
"His response was a little extreme for something like that." Tolen noted, looking to the tent flap out of which the ferret had disappeared.
"Everyone listens to words differently." Tollie explained cryptically, "Please excuse me... I am needed at the negotiations."
"I'm sure Loric, Sten, and Gaerid have everything under control." Shadow noted, "Sit down."
"I will have to insist." Tollie noted neutrally, and exited the tent.
Shadow and Tolen both gazed after the confusing hyena, then looked to one another, "What was that about?" the fox asked the wolf.
"No idea." Shadow shrugged, "Sometimes I think that, regardless of how complaint he is, Tollie can be almost as stubborn as his sister."
"Do you think the slavers are going to be upset at having the business meeting interrupted?" the healer inquired.
"I haven't dealt with many slavers." the black wolf shrugged in response. He reached down and slowly drew his sword, running a finger across the flat of the blade, "I hate the thought of slavery."
"That doesn't sound like a very Shradian statement, Shadow Darkfang." Tolen smiled, leaning forward where he sat, resting his elbows on his knees.
"I suppose it doesn't." the wolf acknowledged, and he got to his feet, putting his weapon back in its sheath, "I'm gonna make sure nothing goes wrong."
"Good idea." Tolen stood, "And I'm going with you."
"No..." Shadow countered, "You're going to stay here. If something DOES happen you shouldn't be in the middle of a fight."
"If something DOES go wrong I might be needed." Tolen pointed out.
The wolf sighed, "Whatever... it seems like nobody wants to do as they're told tonight."
"Including you." Tolen added with a smirk, following him out of the tent, "Loric told you to stay here."
"I hold my service to the temple, not the nobility." Shadow answered, resting his paw on the hilt of his sword.
"Well, maybe once this is over you can find something more meaningful to give your life direction." Tolen offered.
"More meaningful?" the wolf questioned, "What's more meaningful than the church?"
Tolen smiled knowingly, "Tah'aveen."
Shadow flicked an ear, "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, "The church is in service to Tah--" The discussion was cut short by a bright flash emerging from the back of the tent followed by the sound of a loud thunder-clap. Shadow scowled, "Nori..." he growled the name out, and ran immediately toward the tent where business was being conducted... just in time to see the coyote slaver hurled through the canvas, sans head.
"What in the name of the Goddess?!?" demanded Shadow, and he drew his blade, running quickly into the pavilion and immediately slid to a halt at the scene. Tollie stood right next to the tent flap where the wolf had entered. Gaerid had a bow out and was aiming at the lizard slaver who had Loric around the neck, blade poking at his throat. Wyse was on the table, growling threateningly.
Sten was off to the side near the tear in the tent. He had his sword and shield out; the shield had a quarrel sticking out of it and the blade was covered in blood. Situated not far from the otter was the coyote's head. The Tamascan Blade Slave stood off to the side, both blades out, but held casually, apparently not interested in making any aggressive move; the bat slaver was nowhere to be seen.
"I am not a happy man." Olahg noted, inching backwards as he poked his blade against Loric's jugular.
"Drop the fox." Sten demanded of the lizard.
"Drop your weapons." Olahg ordered, "or I'll kill him... I swear to the Goddess I will."
Sten glanced to Gaerid, who didn't bother looking back. The rottweiler spoke up, "You will die so much more painfully if you do. Drop your blade."
"Everyone--" Shadow spoke up, but he was cut short by Tollie.
"Mr Olahg..." the hyena's voice was quiet, but somehow filled the entire tent, "Your father would approve of your actions here... you realize this, yes?"
The lizard's eyes opened wide, the slitted pupils almost disappearing as they contracted; he dropped the knife.
"My sister has a fondness for instructing people in the nuances of language..." Tollie spoke calmly, "Tell me, Mr Olahg... do you know the meaning of the word defatigate?" the hyena didn't bother waiting for an answer as a dark, hungry aura flowed between him and the stunned lizard. Olahg's eyes rolled back in their sockets, and he collapsed, unconscious, his stamina and vitality wailing as they were pulled into Tollie like a raft into a whirlpool.
"What about the bat?" Shadow demanded immediately.
"Nori is chasing after her... but I am certain she will be back for her Blade Slave." Tollie noted, turning to regard the wolf, a hint of eagerness to his eyes, "You had best prepare." He then turned to the Tamaskan, "You as well, Allin."
The scarred dog bowed his head obediently, "Yes, Master."