Erk and Buchek Discuss the Raid
Subject: Re: Argh!
Must . . . refrain . . . from . . . comment. . .
From: Clara
Subject: Back to the game at hand
For the third time, Kayla looks around and finds a bench sitting near the Inn. She puts her things down and watches as the last of the fire brigade winds down.
Delicately, she pulls out her fiddle and begins a peaceful melody.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand
Anybody remember when Matt gets back from vacation? I think it's quite a while from now, isn't it? A couple of weeks or so?
From: Clara
Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand
Dunno when he gets back, but he's not doing anything until we've all talked each other silly and have settled for the night. So we might as well have some conversation or other some such interesting filling.
Doncha wanna get t' know yer companions?
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand
Well, *I'd* love to, but Buchek's head feels like it's been backed over by a truck (not that he'd know that, not living in a universe in which automotive technology exists and all), and he's feeling incredibly weak and shaky as well. He's also pretty busy reproaching himself for having failed to kill Tossuc. He might be coaxed into a conversation, but he isn't going to be initiating any.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand
Elotai?s still tying up bad guys and/or helping to put out fires with Bermid, and at some stage is going to broach the subject of tagging along on this expedition with him, but I need Matt to be around for that.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand
Since Buchek is trapped in darkness for the next hour or so, Erk intends to engage him in conversation.
I sent out a turn where Erk was asking Buchek about why the raid happened. I will repost it:
"I fear that he has, along with several of his raiders. Many of them have fallen here though, and I find it strange that he would throw away the life of his men for what seems to be so little." Erk sits down at the edge of Buchek's darkness. "You seem to know this man. What was his goal here? What would he have to gain? It makes little sense to me, though I admit to being mostly ignorant of the peoples who live in these wilds."
He says a little more quietly, "But take no offense at that. I am glad you fought on our side here. The valor of your people is without question."
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand
Weird--I never got that one. Give me a second to read through it and Buchek'll respond.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand
Buchek lies face down in the grass for a moment trying to pull his wits together. It's plesantly cool here, out of the sun, and the smell of the grass and the soil is comforting. It smells like home. It would be much more plesant to allow himself to doze for a time, at least until the blood pulsing through his temples stopped feeling like dull hammer blows. The scent of the clansmen's bombs cuts through to clean smell of earth and growing things, though, poisoning it with its sulfer stench. It's an evil smell, and it brings him back to reality. With a groan he sits up gingerly putting his palms to his temples and pressing gently. Why would Tossuc have raided this settlement, and done it in such a way that he carried off little if any plunder? What was it that his uncle had said to him, just before he left? Something about his purpose being done here? As though detonating the bombs, blowing up the towers, had been the end, rather than the means to it.
"Know him? Yes, Erk, I know him," he says with a low, mirthless laugh. "That man is my uncle, murderer of my father, and my sworn enemy. When I saw him today I thought that my moment had arrived, that my ancestors would lend strength to my hand and let me bring that thrice cursed dog to justice. I don't understand why they did not. He could not possibly have their favor, nor Kipshaa's, not after his crimes..." He trails off.
"I'm not sure what his purpose here today was. He is many things, most of them foul, but he is no fool. What he did here today...he had a goal, and from what he said to me before he left, he felt that it had been met. Tell me, what did his raid accomplish? I heard explosions just before he indicated that he had achieved his purpose. What did he destroy?"
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand
Erk replies, "I saw one tower destroyed. His men tried to burn as many buildings as possible, but the only building destroyed with an explosion was the tower. In such a raid, burning buildings is often just a distraction."
He sits quietly for a moment, then asks, "Buchek. I know very little of your people. Are such raids common? What is their usual goal? Do your leaders spend the lives of their warriors so carelessly? I want to understand."
As the battle rush fades, so too does Erk's stern demeanor, and he begins laughing quietly. "And what gods protect your murderous uncle?! I haven't heard of that many failed attempts to hit the target since my brother's first try at losing his virginity. And none of us were even drunk! If I hadn't landed at least one good blow before he left, I would have had to trade in my axe out of shame. If we run into him again, I hope we acquit ourselves better than this time."
"Do you think we will see this man again?"
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Back to the game at hand
"One tower destroyed? Hm. I wonder what it contained. You're right that burning buildings is rarely the point of a raid. We must ask the farmers who live here about this tower."
In response to the dwarf's questions, Buchek replies "Common? As the farmers' settlements push deeper into clan territory they become more common, but still they are rare. I am not surprised, though, that my uncle would be in favor of such raids. He said that my father was weak, and had polluted the Cushat by allying himself with the landed people, and by trading with them. The usual goal of such raids is plunder--horses and cattle are commonly taken. And women, of course. It is said that vegetable eater women have skills beyond imagining, and are voracious in their appetites.
As the battle rush fades, so too does Erk?s stern demeanor, and he begins laughing quietly. ?And what gods protect your murderous uncle?! I haven?t heard of that many failed attempts to hit the target since my brother?s first try at losing his virginity.
Buchek snorts with laughter at this comment, then groans involuntarily, clutching at his head. As the burst of pain fades, he gingerly rubs his temples. Perhaps that is it--perhaps he has made a pact with some Tall Grass demon, and from it gains the strength to resist even our ancestors, for a time.
?Do you think we will see this man again??
Buchek shrugs, unseen in the darkness, and begins idly tearing up tufts of grass. "I do not know. This will not be the last time he troubles the vegetable eaters, that is certain. It is possible that this attack was a feint, designed to lure the farmer's soldiers to this village while Tussoc's larger force attacks Segrada itself. Or perhaps there was a prisoner in the tower he destroyed, and his mission was to free him. Or perhaps the Tall Grass demon with whom he has allied himself [ooc: it is clear that Buchek has adopted this guess as truth] demanded this attack for reasons of its own. It is hard to say. But Tussoc is not done, and the vegetable eaters will feel his hand again. If I had to wager, I would bet against him following us into the Tall Grass; had he wished to slay me, I'm afraid that he could have done so here, it shames me to say. There is no reason that I know of why he would care about any of you in particular, beyond the fact that you are my companions."