Garith stands and begins to speak. “My friends it has been long since we have spoken. I have been doing much thinking and I have come to a conclusion. Once the span reopens Astrum and I will travel to the shard of Fredrick Douglas to appeal our case to him. We will attempt to bargain with him for our safety. Above all we wish to avoid the war that some people seem so fervent to ignite. We have seen the power of Douglas’s army and even our strongest where unable to oppose him. I have called this meeting so that we may discuss my proposition. What are your opinions?”
Drux takes his seat and listens to what Garith has to say than looks to Thalenir and says, "I'm inclined to agree with you on this matter as well. Everything we've heard of Douglas and the army is the fact that they hate magic and anything that is no human in nature so trying to strike a deal with a crazed power hungry psychopath doesn't seem like the best course of action here.”
Grall Bonekeeper stands behind the table, favoring an occasional session of pacing to a chair. When the conversations pauses, he chimes in.
"I agree with the others. Sending two magic users, and one of them non-Human, to meet with Douglas would be suicide. As a Savage, I may not know much about spells, reading, or other things, but there is one thing I know much about: war. Though I may not be as strong as some other members of town," the Angori admits grudgingly, as if the words coming out of his mouth were bile, "I do understand war in all it's forms. Therefor, I say we forget about reasoning with a madman and focus on training, building the wall, and working together.
"We may not be able to outnumber Douglas' army, or maybe even outmatch, but we can outmaneuver him. My race is admittedly not known for their intelligence...although any of you who comment further on that subject will find themselves staring at the business end of my horns...but we are masters at war tactics. I would be willing to help organize those willing to fight on the front lines, with some help from a more powerful and more experienced fighter. What say you, master Garith?"
Taklinn walks in dirty, disheveled and angry about leaving his post for a meeting. He walks over to the barkeep and orders a pitcher of ale. He sits back listening to the conversation before finally speaking. He stands up, ears red, and blurts out "I canno' believe that I was pulled from me duties buildin' a wall to hear this! If ye were wantin' to lick his boots, why did ye want a wall? I'm not fer tuckin' my tail and cowerin' like a dog. If that be the character of this town, then perhaps it is time fer me to take me leave. No, durned that! Ye'll not be granted any terms by this madman, mark me words. What have ye to offer him in return fer our safekeeping mage? What do we have that he thinks he cannot take by force?! Our options are limited and simple. Flee like orcs, or stand and fight fer what is ours. He has backed us inta a corner! Even a cornered dog has the courage to strike when cornered. I was sworn as a deputy to defend Jastrey, not surrender her to the likes of Douglas. So if ye go and get terms to be that one's slave, ye be sure'n to let me know so I can go to someplace where they have backbones!" As he finishes his tirade, he turns and drains his pitcher, orders another and sits down and relinquishes the floor.
Glimmer comes in half fretting over Taklinn's fierceness. After his tirade and plop to the floor, Glimmer speaks out, quite a bit more pronounced than her usual ramblings. "Oh, my dear friend. I do wish you and Astrum would reconsider this matter. I fear you are being set up, and by the loss of you tow, it's a loss to the town. I know there are broken bridges here with Astrum. And you feel the strains of that as well. But I fear if you go through with this, you two are only pushing yourselves further from any resolutions. I can't support you in this matter. Titania's grace, I wish I could. I've been an advocate to half this town to give Astrum a chance. The same I did for Stiers. I see the good in all of us. But this will lead to nothing short of slaughter I fear. I do wish you'd reconsider, and that you and Astrum would stand with us as a town. Fredrick Douglas and his armies burned my home shard. I won't stand by and become enslaved to them here. At some point, a stand must be taken. We shouldn't have to just surrender our town to them. And on their terms. I simply can not fathom that thought. I will stay and fight. To the death if I must, for these people. Including you and Astrum. I beg of you, do not walk where you shall go alone. Either of you. I fear you are going unsupported and unwelcomed." At that, Glimmer sits beside Taklinn and attempts to soothe his grumblings.
Stiers walks in and over hears and waits for a pause they took a very likeing to paladins and warlocks as i do recall..... when i was in my darker stages as a walock i rember over hearing them yeling Keep the paladin and the warlock alive when i faked my death then was dicovered.. I will not kneel to a false god i rather die.
Stiers truns and says I will travel to this shard this false god is a paladin he must respect the paladin code and talk with me ............I will reason with him and covince him the undead shard is more of a threat that we must forge an alliance..Stiers waits for a responds from the rest of the people
Astrum pops into the tavern and skitters to the side slightly.
"Still can't get the landing quite right..."
He dusts of his robes briefly and faces the town members.
"I know how you all feel about this. I don't like Fredrick any more than the next fella', and maybe there will be a time to strike... but it is not now... What happens after we build a wall? We haven't the forces to defend it against an army of hundreds, or even thousands. Let's suppose we did, how would we last a season without food? As you might have noticed, Garith and I have constructed a green-house on the top of the tower. This may be the first shot at any sort of self-substaining anyone has taken. Swords and swearing don't solve everything. I do not pretend myself to be a wise man, but I fear that some 20 beings cannot hold their own against thousands.
So what does this mean? I admire you Taklinn. Yes. How easy it would be to go out in glorious battle, give them a fight for the history books. Ah yes, I can see it now."
As he speaks, he jumps to each member in turn.
"Taklinn, his axe on high. Enemy after enemy he would drop until his axe dulled, his armor dented and his strength failed him. And Thalenir. I know as well as any your power. Suits of armour offer no protection against the might of magic. Spell after spell you would throw. Men would fear your very shadow, and still... spells run dry. Corvax, with the might of the forest he would crash down on Fredrick. And still forests burn."
Astrum eyed each member with feverish expression.
"Yes. Yes it would be a battle of the ages. The immortals themselves would be envious. Yet it would be for naught. Young and old, left to rot in the mud. Our fight would not go in the history books. None would be spared an ounce of trouble for our labors. The only thankful members of this shard would be the maggots and the flies. I do not choose this. I choose to live to fight another day. I choose to wait for the right moment to strike. Strike while the iron is hot ey Taklinn? I say to resign ourselves to death without attempting any other solutions is cowardice. I SAY anyone can die. Far more difficult is it to live. To fall into the sweet embrace of death is but a weak man's last resort. Let us wait... and watch... Let us find a time that we may do our shard... the world a bit of good.."
Astrum takes a seat more gracefully than usually and finishes.
"I choose to fight. But not this day."
Garith listens to everyone in turn and as Astrum finishes stands. After a moment of thought and a quick glance to confirm the Expendables are nowhere to be found he speaks. "Astrum has summed my plan up perfectly. I have no intent to completely surrender myself to Douglas, I only wish to use him for our town. If we where to stand against him and even if we do survive then we still will have Scorch to deal with. I feel that we should use Douglas to help us combat Scorch and his army and bide our time. If we can work for him for a year or two then we will have all grown in strength and be in his good graces and be able to get close enough to him to exact our revenge. I still wish to fight him and never surrender this town, however the best way to defeat a warrior is not in hand to hand combat, the best way is through wisdom and cleverness. This is why I feel we should join with him. This however could be my death if the Expendables hear word of this. However I trust all of you with my life and felt you should all know that I only want to risk my life by going to deal with him is for us. If I should die in the process then we will have no choice but to fight and I will join you all proudly in the fight.” Garith seats himself and looks around waiting for the next person to speak.
Thalenir completely ignores Astrum's rantings and regards Garith's argument with little more than a shrug of indifference. "Douglas is smarter than the both of you, it seems. He has placed bait on our doorstep and the two of you seem to be taking it splendidly. Were I him, I'm sure I would find your machinations most amusing. As it stands, however, I prefer the less suicidal approach of slaying the villains at the gates rather than inviting them in for tea."
Thalenir rises to leave. "I have spoken my peace on the matter. Do what you will, and the rest of us shall do the same."
Taklinn listens to the comments and gets up more composed, even if his ears are still red. "It would seems wisdom to try to reason with Douglas, but ye'd be wrong lads. If he were a rational man who could be reasoned with, he wouldnt be claimin' rulership or ownership of Jastrey. I'm thinkin' that ye will do what ye will, and I wish ye luck, but know that I will not be enslaved. Me thinkin' is more that the town will lose some mages, and only be weakened further." he says locking gazes with Garith. "An' dyin with a heap o' me enemies at me feet ain't me wish. I want nothing more than to practice me craft in peace and be left alone to live as I may. I'm not sayin we march and meet this crazed mans forces on the field, but what is the harm in being prepared defend ourselfs. I will build a wall to crash them down, an' make no mistake there are a few dwarven tricks I have. So while I do not wish war, I will not shy from it either. As my simple horned friend has spoken of, we did not cause this war, nor invite it. To give in without knowin' more of our enemy is folly, so if ye are to go, get a good measure of our enemy and try to gauge his strength and numbers. Knowledge is not just the preservation of history, it is the study of the present lads." he says to The group all the while looking at Astrum and answering his comments. "And make no bones about it, if we are to let the vipers in our midst they will be harder to oust than to keep them at bay. The enemy has already done much to harm this town, most of all pitting us against ourselves. If we are to have any chance, we will need to stand united to a man. So I say let us come together to plan and prepare for all contingencies. If there is truly no way to win the day, we can stay and be slaves or flee. But I will not relinquish the town until all possibilites for her defense have been exhausted. We have nothing to bargain against with the enemy; nothing that he does not already think he can take from us with force. Perhaps ye are all right, but I will plan to defend ye and every other member of Jastrey until me hand is forced otherwise."
Astrum listens and responds carefully.
"I agree with all you've said Taklinn. I did not ask for you to halt building of the wall, nor to throw down your weapons. I ask only for time to negotiate and judge this man somewhere besides the battlefield. He may be a barbarian as you say, but he may be willing to negotiate. If he agrees to allow our virtual freedom, then I would take it over the death of town. If not, I will be with you whole-heartedly. Only time will tell."
"Well do as ye will I suppose, if ye aren't to be dissuaded, then I guess there is nothin' to do but wish ye luck. The Wall ain't goin to build itself either, so if ye excuse me, I will take my leave. If any wishes ta find me I can be found at the quarry." He walks out the tavern and proceeds to the quarry.
Thalenir arrives at the designated meeting start time and finds a table for himself and the other members of the New Dawn. He does not greet or speak to anyone, and his manner is reserved. He waits until Garith is finished and chimes in.
"I think you'll find the dogs of Ressik none too accommodating to an alchemist and a mad empyrean, Garith. If their recent actions have proven anything, it is that their intolerance is just as strong today as it was during the Shunning. Negotiating with them is ill-advised at best. You're likely to find yourself imprisoned, brainwashed, or dead for the attempt."
"Of course, I'm all for peace in lieu of war. If you would treat with them, I wish you the best of luck. As for me, I think I'll pitch in with erecting a sturdy wall to keep them out."