Liberty Beguiling

"There is honour in a death in fair combat though. Would you deny them that and condemn them to defeat or captivity?"  Aleixo rides in behind the conversation. "Unfortunately she got away. We should prepare for retribution."

"Not everyone has you impeccable sense of honor, brother,"  Sval says.  "These men were brigands. They were never bound for Valhalla...or wherever it is Hellenians go, no matter how they died." He looks to Brimblebread and laughs. Her unspoken offer of help weighed on his heart far less heavily than the looks of horror he normally received.  "My eye is fine. It's a mutation. I know it's not pretty to look at, but it serves me well. As for your help, it would be welcomed." He looks toward the broken gate. " I think w e're going to need all the help we can get."

" Yes, sadly we lost her off to the north." Xan rides at Aleixo's side "And there is little in the way of law and order away from the cities, the strong take what they can. They must be kept in check by the knowledge that death will find them if they go too far." Xan bows his head to the goblin the group are talking to. "That is not to say there is no place for mercy, just that not everyone should be given another chance. Well met, I am Xanthos, a healer. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance mistress." He turns to look at Sval "What do we have to fear, it looks like they made that space just for Aleixo to stand guard, he will not let any foe get past him, we can all sit back and enjoy the spectacle." He pats Aleixo on the shoulder before swinging down from the horse. "Maybe save a couple for Sval youngster, he'd get jealous if you killed them all."

It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance mistress. Brim's cheeks turned an immediate shade of pink at the approaching riders. In the tiniest of voices she barely squeaks out a mess of words, " ...m-mistress...? Whu-? N-no you're, that is to say I'm just a, uh... "  Her voice trails off and she stares ahead, mouth ever-so-slightly agape, " It's a pleasure to meet you too your lordship."

Aleixo smirks at the goblin's embarrassment. "Look Xan, you startled the poor girl." He gives a chuckle, "Don't worry, I'm sure you will get used to him. I could stand in the door, set up a barricade, some spear heads, angle the entrance to the side so that archers can't make a shot at me." He looks into the distance. "Perhaps someone above to rain down arrows or hot oil on those choked at the bottom. This is a good place to make a stand."

"Lordship, by the gods no, I grew up in the slums of Macedon, and I am far from a Lord, but we can be great people nevertheless, and we can always be polite, which I see I do not need to tell you." The smile lights up Xan's weathered face, golden hair framing his bronzed skin. "Aleixo, shall we look to the defences, Azul can your owl keep a watch to the north for us? I suspect they will come from that direction and a little warning wouldn't hurt. Of course they could be smarter than that, I am no general. Maybe you can make the plans, my oversized friend." Xan walks his horse towards a safe spot to wait, whilst talking to the spearman over his shoulder.

"Pull the doors to force a sideways entrance, prevent them from seeing what they are coming into. We can form and additional barrier to create a corridor along the wall, keep us safe from archers and ." He sets to trying to heft the doors so that there is a single pathway where he can then wedge them shut. "Someone bring the horses inside, and get a shovel and anything heavy you can find to form the barricade."

Xan looks at the ground outside the trading post, lips pursed. "If we placed something I could set fire to, I could then spread the flames out cutting off their retreat or forcing them away or into your trap. If we left a pile of wood twenty feet out from the wall we could set fire to it whenever we wanted. And it wouldn't look suspicious if we did it right." Looking at the space where he Alexio had indicated he wanted the barrier he shouts over. "We could flip the cart on its side, that would be hard to climb over easily and it's pretty sturdy. That barrel of oil we brought here would go up like a candle we could use that outside, if will place it with some wooden junk they probably wont pay it any attention." Xan is pacing around the while time he is speaking, nervous energy keeping him focussed on the planning.

Sval brings the horses inside and leads them to the stables. He helps Luthien to the guest house and gets her settled there. He returns to Aleixo as he's working on a plan. Performing a simple magical sign, he places a hand on Aleixo's wound and channels energy from the mutation in his chest to cut on his friend's shoulder. The would seals over with what looks like black tree bark and then fades back to the hellenian's bronze skin tone.  "Where do you want me?" he says, looking over the plan.

As the plan is lain out, the various other members of the group all find places to store their travelling supplies and strike up some modicum of conversation with their new hosts. "Fear not," Valerie tells Orion and Sophia, who both seem gloomy and sorrowful as they watch their guests intently. "I'll stand between you and these scum. You are under my protection." Meanwhile, Amiri flexes her shoulders. "Finally, a fight. I'm bored with all this riding and talking." "Well, these aren't the heroics that I was hoping to write about," Linzi remarks with a sigh, "but I guess even the greatest heroes had to start somewhere." "I see you're not easily cowed," Orion tells them all with a look of disbelief. "Please be careful," Sophia pleads, "and don't let Orion do anything too risky." Over the course of the afternoon, barricades are erected and defences constructed in preparation for the expected attack. Eventually the moon can be seen rising up over the western horizon and night falls as the sun passes behind it. Petros wakes before dawn from a nasty dream that tortured him almost all night long. He saw a wall of unnaturally thick fog surround him, slowly moving closer and closer. A quick look out the window and he finds that the fog was not a figment of his imagination, not a dream at all. Suddenly, the half-transparent outline of a beautiful nymph appears before him. Even in this ghostly form, it's clear that she's exhausted. Her shoulders are slouched and her large, blue eyes burn within her pale face. "Hear me," she calls, "please, hear me... Can you hear me? Please..." Her voice is barely more than a whisper as she reaches out towards him.

Pushing himself backwards and upright to rest his back against the headboard of the narrow bed, Petros rubs sleep from his eyes, not quite believing the beautiful but troubled vision before him.  Responding to her call, Petros extends his hand and replies, "Yes, I hear you.  Who are you?  What do you need?"

"Who am I?" The nymph replies. "Just a tear, shed by the land itself. The bitter sigh of nature... I am a nymph, the guardian of this area. A defeated guardian! Call me the 'Guardian of the Bloom', if you wish. I require your aid. We have a common enemy and long have I searched for someone who can defeat him. The one you call Capricornus... As a storm strikes ruthlessly with gusts and lightning, Capricornus wreaks havoc with the swords of his servants and not just in the world of men! The land also suffers from the evil that he brings. My forests and my flowers suffocate in this fog. Soon, even I will vanish as the last ray of light falls at dusk."

Petros swallows uncomfortably.  "Capricornus...that's why we are here.  To put an end to him.  But...is he more than just a man?  We are just...I am only...What is this fog?  My friends will do what we can to kill him...we haven't much choice anymore, I think."   Instinctively, as Petros talks he reaches out to the Nymph, attempting to infuse her with his healing touch.

Petros's hand passes straight through the nymph and she offers him but a sad smile in return. "The fog hides Capricornus's fortress, as well as his dark deeds, but he did not create this affliction. It is the work of a powerful druid, who has betrayed even himself. I know not why the powers did not leave this renegade, but even I was unable to defeat him."

Deep within him, something hardens a bit more within Petros as his inability to help the nymph further confirms his sense of uselessness.  He had to get out of here.  He was not going to be able to help her or to help these people.  He was just some guy who did what he had to do to keep breathing.  He wasn't some hero like in the stories about the gods.  He had to get out, or he was going to die. "Well, thank you for the information, but I don't know what you want me to do about it.  I think...I think you have the wrong person.  You should really tell someone else this.  Maybe Xan or Sval.  They're just down the hall.  They are the real deal."

"No! I can reach only you," the nymph begs Petros desperately. "This fog... It enshrouds, entangles and suffocates... If only I could learn how it was created... but my powers wane. I barely have the strength to call out to you. All I know for certain, is that somewhere in these lands lies an old house and it echoes with the remnants of a strange power. Capricornus and his druid were there. The fog hides this place from me, but I can point you to the bandits' camp near the Thorn Ford. Make them tell you where this place is. Go there and listen to the echo. Catch the whispers. Search for anything that can tell you how this fog was created. Once it clears, nature will breathe again and you will easily be able to find your way to the fortress of our mutual enemy."

This just keeps getting stranger.  I thought druids were supposed to protect nature.  Why did she come to me anyway?  It'll be her own fault when she succumbs.  She should have gone to someone else.  Anyone else. "Yeah, ok.  I got it. Save your strength.  I don't know when we'll be able to do anything about it.  We may get not even survive the day." Please don't die yet, nymph.  Il tell the others and hopefully they'll be able to do something.

"I don't believe in fate, stranger, but our meeting seems more than a coincidence," the nymph whispers, her voice fading as she disappears. Petros's vision blurs and his limbs suddenly feel incredibly heavy. He feels himself slide back down the bed and sleep takes him. The next morning, the party are woken by the warmth of golden sunlight and the bird song of the savanna. Somehow, last night's encounter seems like a distant memory to Petros. The memory remains, but was it real or merely a vivid dream? One thing is certain, an intuitive understanding of the location of the Thorn Ford has been burnt into his mind.

After assisting with fortifications, checking his gear, feeding Senia and really anything that can delay him from undertaking this distasteful task. Azul takes a deep breath, steeling himself and building up his resolve. He goes to where they tied up the unconscious bandit and hefts the man over his shoulder. Looking around the fort for Brimblebread, he find the goblin and says in a cold gravelly voice "You mentioned earlier that you had skill in the healing arts, can you wake this man? There is much we need to learn from him."

Brim had been aiding in setting up some of the armaments and fortifications in preparation for the coming battle. After the shock of meeting all these surprisingly kind humans, she was more than eager to set to work helping get the place prepared for the apparent upcoming siege. When Azul arrived to talk to her, she nearly screamed in surprise - so engraved in her work was she - and stumbled back a bit. "Ah! Oh wow you startled me pretty bad, I'm sorry, Sir!" It's not until a moment later that she even registers what he said, and quickly jumps again, "Oh! Yea of course I can heal him. I want to speak with him too. If it's really truly alright with you I'm just gonna lay my hands on him for just a second." In a matter of seconds of making contact with the man, a faint radiant bit of energy flows out from the point of contact, and all at once dissipates. "There! Wake up mister bandit! My name is Brimblebread and I wanna know what horrors of your upbringing led you to make such terrible life decisions! Also my friend here has a question or two too, I think..."

As Brimble reaches her hands out to the unconscious bandit, Azul checks to make sure the rope is secure to the man and sets him on the ground. As he does so he looks Brimble in the eye and says "Thank you, your help would be most appreciated. This is not a task I relish in having to preform. Though be prepared it is about to get a bit hot" As Azul speaks his brass scales ruffle and his amethyst eyes look unsettled. He has never liked interrogating someone, combat was easy it was clean and honorable. With interrogation you have to make someone fear you, and that is something that does not come naturally to Azul. Fortunately though he has found in his travels that humans often fear fire, hopefully that will help.  After he sets the man down, he waits for the bandit to open his eyes, When he sees the humans eyes open, he conjures a bolt of flame in his hands he then manipulates the flames carefully controlling and it expending it as he maneuvers the blaze behind the bandit.  After he finishes he kneels down placing his snout near the mans face, and blows a burst of hot air from his stomach onto the mans face. "She speaks truly bandit" Adding more than a healthy dose of contempt on the last word.  "We have questions & you will answer them, and if you lie to us...." Azul pauses using his control of the flames to expand the fire closer to the bandit "my people often offer those who have harmed the community to the flames". 

As the dragonborn exhales fire and smoke upon the man, Brim suddenly has a slight realization about what kinds of questions he was looking to ask. "W-wait what are you doing?" She leans in close to Azul, having to still raise herself up on the tips of her toes a tad to reach his ear, despite his kneeling, "Hey you're not really gonna hurt this man, right? I don't think I would be all that comfortable with that,"   she whispers, "Oh, actually I know what I can do!"   She stands back and looks at the man once more, intoning in her deepest treble, her voice wavering only slightly with uncertainty,  "Servant of evil, I warn you that my friend here is not to be trifled with.  I, however-" As she speaks, s he clasps her hands before her, a small trinket clenched tightly between them. A faint humming emanates from within as thin beams of radiant light sneak through the spaces in her fingers, the interwoven digits creating a shining beacon of intermittent energy that washes over her whole body soon enough, casting it in a resplendent golden aura. "- am much more willing to trifle! So, what'll it be?"

There's a foul smell and Azul notices a small puddle slowly forming beneath the wild-eyed man. "Yes, yes! Please, what do you want to know? Don't burn me, oh Gods, please don't burn me. Anything but that."

Azul scales ruffle as he smells the putrid odor and sees the puddle. This was a distasteful but necessary evil. Though Brimble's behavior had confused him, she seemed to have noble soul but he wasn't sure what she expected when he said he had questions for the man. Shaking off these thoughts Azul sets himself to the task at hand. Azul says in a steadily calm voice " I want to know how many men  Capricornus commands, where his home base is, what if any magic items & resources he possess and what is likely response to your units disappearance  is going to be. Answer truly and you may escape the fires"

Brim waits for Azul to finish speaking before popping up in front of him to chirp in excitedly, “Ooh and while you’re answering all that, what I  want to know is if you regret all the bad stuff you’ve done in your life and also if seeing yourself in the position you’re in now would make you amia-... amana-...”  she pauses with a confused look on her face and starts tapping the side of her temple repeatedly before her eyes light up and she snaps her fingers together, “Amenable! Would you be amenable to putting this life behind you and starting over on a better path?” She looks from the bandit to Azul, tracing a path between them with her eyes and settling on the faint bit of brimstone-smelling smoke still wafting from his nostrils and the corners of his mouth, “I reaaaally  hope you’ll say yes!”

The bandit grows even paler. "I... oh Gods, I don't know," he wails, starting to break down into tears. "I've never been to the old fort, but Krysten and Hamon have at least a dozen at thorn river camp! They'll march everyone north to take the trading post. Please don't burn me. I'll do anything you ask!"

Azul looks at the man attempting to carefully take his measure, though truthfully his mind is distracted. He had run interrogations before during his service to the merchant company he partnered with on his way to Hellenia, but each time he went through it he felt like an imposter. More like an actor than himself. From what he can tell though this man is scared for his life, and being truthful with the dragonborn. Leaning closer he sees the raw fear, increasing Azul's discomfort he would truly much rather be respected than feared. But sometimes you do not have a choice. He begins again deepening the gravelly nature of his hellenian to further accentuate his otherness   "You seem to know nothing Bandit, you must give us something to spare you from the flames. How far is the Thorn River camp from here and by what route would they take to reach us? And what can you tell me of Krysten & Hamon?"

"A dozen miles or so!" The man quickly volunteers. "As the crow flies. Across the plains and through the woods. Krysten's the leader. She's one of Capricornus's lieutenants. Hamon is her stooge. He keeps the men in line."

Azul nods it seems like there is little else he will be able to get out of this man. One question does spring to his mind "Does your group have any siege  weapons?"

"What?" The man asks with a confused frown. "Um, I don't think so. At least, I've never seen any."

Watching the interaction between the dragonborn and the terrified man, Brimblebread begins to feel a tad uneasy. She was still pretty new to this whole thing, but was it alright to let this man fear for his life like this? Was it okay for her to stand by and allow Azul to gain information through fear? Was it normal for people to ignore your questions just because someone nearby is breathing fire? To these and many other questions, she had no answers. Regardless, it was clear the man was not lying. He was starting to look more like a puddle than a man, and puddles don't lie. "Hey I just want to step in for a moment and say you're being really brave volunteering all this helpful information, right Sir Azul?" She turns to the dragonborn and smiles, then quickly looks back at the man, "What's your name future-friend? Now that you're done with that old life, you can start to work on a new one! One where you don't inflict violence on others for personal gain, but because other's are depending on you to save them." A beat passes. " Or! No violence at all. Both are good ideas. Anyway listen, the information you've given us will be a tremendous help, I'm sure, but I do fear that the very act of talking endangers you to these bad people you used to work for. So the way I see it you have a couple options: One, you run. Really far. As far as you can away from here, and then start a new and honest life." She takes a step forward until her face is close to his, her deep, ochre eyes still aglow, "Or, you help us defend this place that you  attacked tomorrow morning. Make up for it and you'll be A-Okay in my book!"

Azul's jaw nearly drops from his snout as Brimble speaks. To even let this man goes was foolish, to think he would fight against his allies for those who held him captive was beyond the pale. He initially thought she had a noble soul but now he is wondering if her optimism was just naivety. He nods his head backwards and says "Brimble may I speak with you." He walks out of ear shot for the man and says "We cannot let this man go and he certainly cannot fight for us tomorrow. He is afraid now but when his courage returns he is far more likely to stab us in the back than be of any use.  We would have to split our focus between watching him and fighting the battle putting us all in jeopardy . This all without even mentioning that he has committed crimes against this land and it's people, it is not justice to let the debt be erased." He takes a deep breath and forces a calmer tone and attempts to smile "You have a kind heart but injustice must be punished. Nominally Petros is in charge of this expedition, I will recommend that we spare his life and take his hand. But I heard Petros say that the man is destined for the hang man's rope. Personally I agree that redemption should be an option for the man, it would be a waste to take his life. But he does owe the community penance for his transgressions"

Still waiting for a reply from the man, Brimble is surprised when Azul pulls her away. He explains his feelings on the matter to her, but she starts shaking her head, "I'm confused Sir Azul, if you understand that he can be redeemed, and believe he owes penance, then how can you oppose letting him help us? That's penance! It's not completely wiping the slate clean, but you have to start somewhere! No one is past second chances!" She's clenching her fists at her sides now, and the conical crown of her wide-brimmed hat sags low towards her back, "Please Sir, give him a chance. I'll watch him in the battle! He doesn't even have to fight, maybe he's not ready for that yet, but he could aid in some other way. Anything to help him start doing right! I know we don't know each other well but if I'm wrong I promise I'll take responsibility. You have my word, Sir."

Azul shakes his head and says "I am sorry my new friend but this decision is not mine alone, we will have to bring this to the others. And..." He pauses for a second thinking of how Sval, Aleixo, or even Xan will react and says "be warned my other companions are likely to show far less mercy to this bandit. Petros seemed fairly confident in his decision to hang the man. My people have little tolerance for those who would harm the collective good of the community. They punish thieves  and bandits by sparing their life and taking their hand. So they will carry the reminder of the crime for all of their days. Serving as a deterrent for both themselves and others, reminding the people that justice is swift and true. So  I will advocate for you to help in sparing the mans life, but at the cost of his hand." Shaking his head and looking towards the camp "Though I'm not sure the others will even agree to that." He begins to head into camp "I will find the others so that they may weigh in on this issue".   He then looks for any of his other companions that he can find awake in the camp.

After hearing Azul's story and recommendation, Petros answers Azul.  "Well Azul.  You words hold wisdom to my ear, and I am not surprised.  You have confirmed for me my earlier thoughts.  I do not believe it coincidence that Sophia found you, nor that she stays as your companion.  As I said when we started this trip, we all have roles to play.  The power over life and limb, over those who break the laws and disturb the peace, should not be made by the leader who's power is threatened, nor should it be left to the vicissitudes of the mob.  Therefore, by the authority that I have been delegated by the Mayor and General Alanis, I name you Justice of the North.  This man's life, and all those bound by law in this province, are yours."  Petros looks to see how his pronouncement is taken.  His earlier orders, such as they were, had not been received well by all, perhaps even by most.

Aleixo sits lazily, eating some food, dipping water and resting before the expected battle. "I'm with the goblin. Lots of us have done things wrong. If he wants to repent, let him prove he has changed." He waves his hands, swatting away the issue as nothing. "If he betrays us, I'll put my spear through his back and suspend him from the gates, but if he says he fights for us, he deserves the chance." He says the last part loudly, hoping yo be overheard by the captive. "And you don't go proclaiming anyone anything. I thought we agreed, you measured this thing wtong and we made decisions together. Offering titles isn't going to win you support." He leans forward to point at Petros. "Unless you want to go our seperate ways? I can leave now if you changed your mind." 

Sval ignores Petros and Aleixo's argument and picks up a spear from one of the fallen bandits and walks over to their new companion. He drops the spear on the ground and kicks it over to Dimitrios and cuts the man's bonds with his blade.  "You'll need this," he says, gesturing to the spear. "Use it on me, and I'll use it on you." He turns to listen to the conversation, making a point of having his back to the bandit, but keenly listening for any sounds of betrayal.

"You're welcome to leave whenever you want, Aleixo.  I suspect you'll decide to stay and say something cutting about me actually staying with you.  Well, you can continue to think what you want."  Turning to Linzi, Petros asks her if she would be willing to help Azul keep legal records of his judgments.  Then, to Amiri, if she would be willing to execute his judgments.

Aleixo looks around at Sval, Xan and then to Azul, "Is this something we are actually going along with? Do we answer to him now?" 

"I have told you all before, I do not follow him, our paths are merely moving in the same direction for now. He has no rank to bestow titles and no chance of gaining one without us. The words are fine, the choice may even be wise, Azul would be both fair and strong, a good keeper of the peace, but it is all a pipe dream today." Xan shrugs "I wish to do what we set out to do, let the peacock have his fun, when we have tired of him, we will walk the roads again wherever we wish, it is who we are, and I for one am too old to change now." The healer looks towards the gates "This is all presuming of course that we live to see tomorrow, but in truth I do not fear, we have your spear, Sval's blade and now we have the Justice in the North, what force could harm us?"

Aleixo nods. "Good enough for me. I'd just rather not deliver these lands from one tyrant to another." 

Winking at Petros Xan smiles before answering. " Well if that happens we'll already be experienced tyrant-slayers..." resting against the wall he looks up at the sky, closing his eyes and letting the sun warm him . "We should think about what happens if something goes wrong, I know we are powerful, and I expect to defeat whatever they send but there is a woman to think of and Orion didnt ask for this either. If I can get to Sophia, then I can probably get her out and far enough away to give her a chance of staying out of their reach but I couldnt save anyone else, do we defend up to a point and then try and get over the far wall, might be an idea to leave a pack or two nearby in case we have to cut and run."

"I'm not running. I will buy you time if you must run."

Azul amethyst eyes shine as Petros heaps praise upon the Dragonborn, and is flattered by the title. Though he is conflicted, Petros is clearly seeking to secure his rule by gathering allies and Azul is just another piece on the board for him to do so. But Azul didn't set out to rule a province he set out to make a name for himself. And a title as encaptivating as the Justice of the North, the hero who brought order to the lawless. Will give voice to many stories about his deeds, helping to insure that his name lives on long after he has past. He also truly believes that he will excel in this role, his clan was known for their ability to firmly but fairly provide guidance and order. But even with all of this he is hesitant to take the title, knowing the discord it will cause in among the others  Before he can speak Aleixo interjects and Azul notices out of the corner of his eye that Sval has not only freed the bandit he has given him a spear. And while the armed bandit sits unattended the others continued to squabble about who is in charge. Azul takes a deep breath his scales brass catching some of the fires shine as he does so and forcefully says   "Enough. While we sit here bickering about who is in charge. We have let a man go free, who earlier this very day tried to not only take our lives, but  attempted  to use force to take what is rightfully Orion's."  He gestures towards the man waving him over. He continues his gravelly voice deepening as his speech quickens  "Does it matter which of us claims to be the leader if we allow injustice to fester in the lands we are supposed to protect. I've said before that despite what the general said we should consider ourselves equals in this endeavor, and I hold to that. I will not be a party to the birth of a new dictatorship, for Petros to have my support he must govern with us not over us. This withstanding it is  unconscionable  that we allow this man to not only go free, without having paid any penance for his crimes & arm him with a weapon that he is likely to use against us or the or the people of this area." Azul sighs taking a deep breath and beginning again " I   would prefer to have everyone agree to the title but I will take this position if only to make sure that all voices are heard in this matter."  Looking back Orion he says  "You are by far the most wounded party in this situation, what justice do you seek?"

Aleixo waves his hand again. "He acted on orders, you want to punish every man who did bad things because of their employment start with me. Then round up every military man in Hellenia, then return north having gained the authority of acting without hypocrisy. For now you should relax my friend, have a drink, wait for the battle. Nobody has titles to hand out, and when they do it will be after we give them the job of handing out jobs." He holds out his waterskin. " Come, cool off"

"Aleixo, I didn't plan on leaving you all, just that i could get her out, but no one else. We stand together, but we will succeed anyway." Xan drinks a little from his water skin, as he continues to stand in the sun. " Demetrios was it? Before anyone changes their mind about your continued survival, does this leader have any magical talent, and if so what spells have you seen? It could be very important, so speak now."

Dimitrios grows paler by the minute as his fate is discussed so casually in front of him. His former comrades still lie in a heap on the ground - most of them dead. "K-K-Krysten," he stammers in response to Xanthos, "she has some kind of power. She can heal herself and run faster than any man." Orion looks over at the would-be-former bandit with disgust. "You filth ," he declares, spitting on the ground. "You've ravaged us like wolves all these months and, by Herakles, I'd see you die like the animals you are. You and your friends threatened my wife you mangy dog. Not such a big man now that that little goblin girl laid you out in the dirt, are you?" Orion spits again, this time on Dimitrios himself, before turning to Azul and Petros. "Shove a cactus up his arse and hang him from the gates for all to see. It's no worse than they terrorised us with."

Brimblebread had at first simply stood by patiently, allowing the group a chance to consider the situation for themselves. As the conversation bore on, however, she found herself simply at a loss for words as the intimidating group of men discussed noble rights and charters and titles and used words like 'vicissitudes' and 'unconscionable' and 'peacock'. It dawned on her these weren't just any incredibly tall, powerful-looking, dangerous humans (and a dragonborn) but potentially nobles  as well. And all too suddenly did she feel ten times as small and in-over-her-head than normal. What have I gotten involved in here? It was the words of the caretaker here, the kind man who'd deigned to put a goblin like her up for a night in the first place, that forced her to finally speak up. "Excuse me everyone. I'm real sorry I caused such a stir. First, Mr. Orion, sir," she turns to face the man, the anger he was feeling practically spelled out across his face, "I just wanna say thank you again for letting me stay here. I really do appreciate it. And I'm sorry Dimitrios and his companions did what they did. It definitely isn't right by any means. But if I can, sir..." letting out a shaky, deep breath, she clears her throat, "This man did terrible things. I don't know exactly what he did 'sides what you just said and what I saw before, but he still deserves a chance to atone! No one is past redemption if they try and if you give them time and support! I... I wasn't a paladin until real recent and before that I did things I regret. But I'm here now to right those wrongs and I believe with all my heart I can help others do the same." Brim approaches Orion and gets right in front of him, looking up with eyes wide as the world is round, "You don't hafta forgive him Mr. Orion. And I know it'd be easier to kill him and be done with it. But imagine the good he or others like him could do if given just half-a chance!" Turning to the rest of the group she flashes a toothy smile, her features softening as the glow continues to envelope her, "Everyone deserves at least that much, right?"

Xan pauses halfway to the watchtower, where he had been headed " Mistress, I don't know that I completely agree with you but your conviction is a sight to behold.  If he lives beyond the next few minutes I hope he recognises what you have done for him."  He walks up to the watch tower without turning back " That is a very big if from where I am standing though."