Miro x Zantus

      Miro sits by Boboles gravestone in silence.  His mind drifting off into that oblivion he craved.  Occasionally his mind wondered back to the dream.       "What would you think of this dream Bobole?"  He says to the air.  "Its strange to me, I walk its corridors but my every thought is like gems rising to the surface through mud... and its as if my ever action is being weighed against me.  I know its not Ameiko but the gravity of this presence feels as important to me as my late mother Ameiko."       Miro brushes debris from the grave as he speaks to the nothing around him.

The sound of heavy breathing and a  shhhhhk-shhhhk  of a steady tempo approaches Miro's location. One of the goblin squad members, still in his armor labors to pull a sack along the ground. "Say you're sorry. Do Good. Bring Books," the creature chants in gobin. Every phrase accompanies a pull. He stops to catch his breath. "So says the Glowing Grump Dog. Grump dog didn't say why books are so heavy..." With that he tugs, one more and collapse on the ground ten feet away from the grave of Bobole. He turns and catches the eye of Miro, his gaze is suspicious but he says nothing.

Miro turns to the Goblin quietly.  "What are you doing?"  Miro says in a flat almost whisper, he waves his hand and the bag is hoisted up and left in the air.  Miro stands and walks over to the Goblin extending a hand to help him up.

Chunder stares at it suspiciously and put his hand, small with course skin and nails more like claws in Miro's. With the leverage and pull he hoists himself up and goes over to Bobole's grave. "Say you're sorry. Do Good. Bring books." He chants looking at the grave. He looks at Miro. "The Glowing Grump Dog says so. He'll devour us if we don't." Chunder sounded like he was complaining and yet he runs back over to the levitating bag and being meticulously placing books on Bobole's grave. "I didn't kill you. I didn't kill the book man. I used ektonomix instead of stealing. That's good. I brought books..." he looks at Miro. "To Bobole's friends and to Bobole." He placed another book, never bothering to open them and see what was inside. "And I'm sorry." He didn't say for what and continued his job.

Miro quietly regards the goblin unloading the books for a time.  "You know Chunder.... if you leave these books here they will ruin.  And I don't think Bobole would like that too much." Miro thumbs his hand over a book placed at Bobole's grave quiet for a second and then regards Chunder again.  "Chunder why do goblins think books take your soul?"  

Chunder stops placing the books, considering the problem Miro stated regarding the weather and the state of his offering. He snarled silently at having been posed another issue to figure out. So far, following the Dawn Flower has caused him considerable discomfort. Why couldn't she just ask him to kill or raid? That was easy! He didn't like  having to exert himself for either of those things but at least he got something out of it. Maybe he should- The snapping jaws Char-char filled his mind and he shudders. "Books don't take your soul. The words do. You think in words. There's words in the books...with no one thinking them..." He shudders and considers abandoning this task all together, until we remembers Char-Char's commands. How damn annoying. "So the words must come from someone's head..." He regards the gravestone and Miro. "I'm not...doing good." He growls in frustration. "Stupid ...ruin."

Miro shakes his head.  "I don't understand what are you not doing well Chunder, and what ruin?"  Miro looks about quietly.  "You say many things.  Let us focus first on not ..... doing good?  What do you mean?"

"Books." He kicks a book then hesitates. "Sorry. Book get ruined. Not good for Dawn Flower... What would Bobole do?" He slides his yellow eye at Miro expectantly.

Miro looks to Chunder and smiles.  "Bobole would ravenously seek to know everything in every book he can find.  And the book is not ruined."  Miro reaches down and lifts the book up, he whips the dirt from its cover and hands it back to Chunder.  "I do not know about your grump dog, or the Dawn Flowers charge over you, but I can tell you that its what helped bobole to understand this world we all live in.  You need not worry about your thoughts or soul, books take none of these but help us to keep them long after we have passed.  By placing our thoughts in the book we allow ourselves to remember thoses thoughts long after we as people have forgotten them."

Chunder looks at the book and slowly lifts back the cover when the huff and puff of two adult human males coming up the path. One walks with a lopsided stunted gate and the other is Father Zantus looking terribly concerned. Chunder snaps the book close and drops it, his hands ready to draw his sword and fight.  The hunched man has a scarred face and his back is unnaturally contorted. He falls at Chunders feet and in between pants says, "I...am sorry. So sorry but..." A dry coughs racks his body and he waves away Zantus's helping hand. "I was...eavesdropping and I...had to tell the father!" Abstalar Zantus looks at Miro and opens his mouth to speak but the hunched man in simple grey robes continues. "You, Chunder was it?" The goblin narrows his eyes. "Ja, Ich bn Chunder," he says affirmatively but not loosening his grip on his sword. "I am Naffer. Naffer Vosk and I am blessed to know you." Naffer clasps his hands together and bows. "Tell me, tell us what Sarenrae spoke to you about." Chunder tilted his head from side to side then sneered in confusion, his common still too stilted to be functional. Father Zantus put a hand on Naffer's shoulder and said, "Naffer, the goblins seem to only know Sarenrae by the name Dawn Flower." At this Chunder perked up, seeming to confirm Zantus's theory. Naffer grinned through his scars. "The Dawn Flower has seen you fit to deliver her message to the goblins of Sandpoint," he said to Chunder. "I have prayed to our lady for years since Father Tobyn delivered me from evil and wickedness. Chunder, no Father Chunder, you must tell me what she has you preaching...I beg of you..." Chunder squinted as though somehow that would make the flurry of excited common any more sensical. It didn't. He still just heard a string of jabbering and occasionally his name. He shook his head finally in defeat and said in goblin, "You're stupid. I can't understand anything you're saying with your face hole." Father Tobyn glances at Miro and looks apologetic. "Naffer is devout in his love for Sarenrae...he...seems to think that the her redemption of Chunder and Bobole is a sign...But...it seems there's no way for them to talk..."

Miro places a hand on Chunder's shoulder to show him there is no danger here.  He looks down to the hilt and shakes his head very subtly.  In Goblin Miro relays the messages conveyed to him and continues.  "The Dawnflower's messenger told you to be good chunder.  Part of being good is helping those who are in trouble or afraid.  I will repeat your next words no matter what you say in our tounge.  But know these people are afraid, their town is under attack by those who want to hurt them more than kill them.  So live your vow, use your words to do good, and we will revisit your books soon."  Miro looks expectantly to Chunder prepared to translate whatever he may say word for word.

Chunder blinks. Helping? They were asking for his help? They wanted to know what Char-Char said and the book. Of course...he was this towns shaman now...they needed his guidance, the poor idiots. They were lost. At this realization, the goblin let go of his sword and stiffened his back a little. "Out from the mist," he began, "came a glowing dog with a grumpy face. He came to me and said, "BE GOOD! Say you're sorry! And bring books to Bobole's friends or will bite you!" He feigned snapping the air and growling. "Bobole is a Dawn Flower now. He tells them about doing good and reading books. Now I tell you about doing good and..." he stopped. "I...can't read books but...soon." He looked to Miro for translation.  He was...important. FINALLY! Now he could tell Roxreez to stuff a badger's head up her ass and cough the next time she tried to order him around. All Hail the Dawn Flowers, he thought gratefully.

Miro relays everything even the can't read part just as promised.  He turns to Chunder being the only one here eye level with him and smiles.  In goblin he says.  "You have done well, and yes, if you seek to read then I will help you.  If you seek the Dawnflower, I will help you in that aswell.  Good job Chunder."   Miro looks up to the men.  "These are the words you seek?  There is little else he has to say on the matter.  I advise you go and meditate on this, that the dawnflower would seek to bring the light to even a goblin.  Pray and know that I am with you as we bring a good life to others."   Miro looks to Zantus.  "I am sorry Zantus... for who ever's grave I have desicrated, but Bobole deserved the best."  Miro says matter of factly.  "I will be visiting more often and I will see that whoevers effigy I stole will be replaced."  

Zantus nodded. "Naffer was pretty...upset. He takes caring for the graveyard very seriously as a part of his redemption." Naffer nodded at this. Chunder nodded as well, just to avoid being left out. This made the cleric smile. "Miro, I dare say that all this emotional turmoil and, yes, property destruction is all a direct result of Bobole's passing and yet..." The man runs his fingers over the tombstone. "In dying, Bobole has brought Sarenrae's light to his people hear. Goblins. In Sandpoint. Worshipping a goddess of light." He let his hand fall. "I...can't help to take no small joy out of thinking that somewhere in a dark pit of evil, Lamashtu is wringing her tits and saying...'Dammit, Bobole!'". At that he began laughing a true and heartfelt laugh.

Miro relays the words to Chunder and continues.  "Take no insult, I will explain it later what they mean."  Miro however does not smile or laugh.  His face is as stoic as stone.  He continues to regard Zantus quietly and respectfully.  "Perhaps you are right.  In my brothers passing many good things have come to pass.  A story we must be sure remains as immortal as his effigy."  Miro looks back to the stone morosely.  "Helping was what Bobole should be remembered for, not his antics."  

Father Zantus shakes his head. "No, he should be remembered for all he was. Bobole's light was unexpected and not what I would have anticipated but it was what this town needed." He looks down into Miro's eyes. "Good things don't always come in such nice packages. Sometimes, good things challenge us and pressure us to get...outside of where it's comfortable. Bobole tested my compassion and I can honestly say, I've never prayed so much for someone in my life - not even the sick and ailing." He sighs. "My prayers weren't enough to keep him safe but I'll see to it that any goblin that comes to Sandpoint looking for a better life has a fair chance at getting one and I'll make sure that the people that come to this place of worship understand that goodly goblins are a good chance to learn-" "Tolerance and grace," Naffer interjected eagerly, smiling. "Do gut," Chunder added, eyes shifting uncertainly.

Miro does not looks back to Zantus or the other man.  It is obvious he is done talking to Zantus and Naffer.  If Chunder moves to leave before the men he trys to stop him but he will not force chunder to remain.  In goblin, "So when would you like to understand more about books?"

Chunder hesitates and looks at back at the pile he offered to Bobole's grave. "Soon," he says, after a moment. "First, I tell the other goblins to do good. Then I will learn and then I will teach them."

Miro nods softly not taking his eyes from Bobole's grave for a long time, but not taking his hand from Chunder's shoulder either.  Finally he speaks as he releases Chunders shoulder.  "Go then Chunder,"  Miro turns to him his eyes a blazing silver for the first time since they left for the farm.  "And know that your words carry the weight of a god behind them.  Let no one tell you otherwise, let nobody disuade you from your cause for your convicition is that of the heavens.  And if you find your words fall on hostile ears you come to me, and I will educate them on their mistake."

The goblin nods at this and pats Miro's shoulder. "May Char-Char never bite you, ...friend." He shrugs at his, grabs the empty sack and heads back the way he came down the path.