Elfgame Episode 1

[18:12] <Tim> The sun has just risen, a yellow-white ball of fire in the eastern sky, casting shimmering patterns of argent through the morning mist rising off the fields, lapping around the township and its elevated walkways.  These walkways are woven together from the fronds of the patch of giant bluebells that form the town's foundation, forming multi-level bridges and pathways between the buildings...
[18:12] <Tim> ...sung into shape inside the gigantic flowers hanging from the top of each plant, as well as platforms to actually build structures on.  Windows are created by encouraging the petals of the flower to grow more thinly in a specific place until it reaches blue-tinted transparency, while doors are made of deadwood and affixed to a deadwood frame of poles that provide extra support to the...
[18:12] <Tim> ...structure inside the flower itself, and chimneys are simply a pierced hole in the outer petals, sung wider, with a lone petal covering it at a slant to deflect the elements.  Many of the pathways lead to a broad, wide avenue of many, many giant fronds woven tightly together and sung to by generations of Treesingers for sturdiness.  Great trees poke up through the thoroughfare here and...
[18:12] <Tim> ...there, its structure woven into and around their lower branches for support, mist seeping up around the small gaps at their trunks.  Shops, stalls, and other establishments fill the small low-hanging flowers that droop onto the roadway, some of them still shuttered up tight and looking slightly withered from lack of occupants.  Mara's Inn is open, the scent of fresh-baked bread rising...
[18:12] <Tim> ...with the morning smoke from its chimneys.  The longhouse is the only true deadwood building in town, built around two trees, one on either end, the structure itself freshly re-coated in sewn shingles of pale birch bark over a pole framework.  A handful of travelers are emerging from the hanging blankets that form the inn's door, joining the slow trickle of sleepy elves drifting slowly...
[18:12] <Tim> ...down the main concourse, deeper into the bluebell patch, towards where the Municipal Oak and the election day cauldron are set up.  It's time, really, the Elder has been more or less running things, and the two remaining council members have minds that dwell more in the past than the present.
[18:17] <Tim> Chapter 1: Start
06[18:19] * Idir_Haida woke with the sunrise, breaking his fast with bread, while reading through one of his (many) books on economics. He's a younger elf of about average height, with slick black hair and slight facial stubble.
06[18:23] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir is there early as well, though she's still not entirely comfortable with such heights and openness--being as she is an elf from mines and caves. She's short, perhaps even a little stocky, not terribly old yet. Her skin is pale as alabaster everywhere, her eyes pale blue and her hair just as white. She wears a dark dress and a good amount of jewelry, very much the image of a cave-born...
06[18:23] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir longear from a good family.
06[18:24] * Idir_Haida is wearing loose-fitting clothing, with a complexion indicative of being from the southern deserts, and a long cloak with a jeweled clasp, bearing an insignia of a scorpion.
06[18:31] * Lestari hurries along a walkway, twisting and twirling past whatever sleep-clogged elves that congest the flow of people. She wears light, airy clothing, over which she wears a fancily constructed vest of interlinking Steelribbon Ivy woven into small chain links. An ominous mask made of ironwood and painted with various dyes in the style of a skull hangs around her neck, ready to be put on in an instant. As she hurries a long, the massive boomerang strapped to her back rattles around, and her left hand grasps a sword made
6[18:32] * Lestari of handcarved Ironwood, large shark's teeth strapped along the blade. Her long hair, the color of the reddish dirt that filled her homeland's outback flows in the wind as she hurries to be one of the first to the election.
[18:38] <Tim> "Lestari!  Dear child, come up here and stand by me.  You have good, strong eyes.  Should anyone drop more than four pebbles into the cauldron, chop off their fingers or something." The tiny, wizened figure of Elder Hanma waves to the islander elf with her knobbly cane.  So old that her hair has gone completely white, with only a few streaks of its original indigo, she's the daughter of the...
[18:38] <Tim> ...town's original founder.  Still, her pale green eyes are sharp and alert, and seem keen enough.
06[18:40] * Idir_Haida goes to find a seat, immediately diving back into reading his textbook while he waits.
06[18:42] * Lestari quickly nods and stands behind the cauldron next to the Elder. "Alright, i'll keep an eye out!" she exclaims, shoving her sword through a belt loop and standing at attention, making sure her eyes are locked and don't miss anything out of place.
[18:43] <Tim> A short, scrawny Long-Ear with skin the color of sand and hair the color of dried grass jogs up behind Idir.  He wears practical farmer's clothing, aside from a ridiculous wrapped-cloth turban that folds partially around his ears, and his two front teeth are slightly overlarge, "Hey, Idir!  Good morning!  As expected of fellow warriors of the desert, we rise easily with the sun, yes?"
[18:44] <Idir_Haida> "And good morning to you too." He slips his bookmark back in place. "But of course, when the sun is the only thing in the sky, it is difficult to notice its rise and fall, even through sleep."
[18:45] <Tim> It's Beilwin.  He's also technically a desert elf, but from one of the really unimportant Long-Ear tribes that migrated there.
06[18:49] * Idir_Haida looks around. "Do you need something, Beilwin?"
[18:50] <Tim> "Nienna!" Mavathera, the innkeeper, waves to the cave elf.  She's a pleasant, ebullient Short-Ear woman, although she strongly prefers to be called by 'Mara' rather than by her name.  Originally from Hub, a Free City further south where the Serpent Roads meet, she has corn-hued hair and milk white skin, "Have you voted yet?"
06[18:51] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir smiles to Mara. "Heading there now, actually. What of you?"
[18:52] <Tim> Beilwin sort of shrugs, "Oh, nothing.  Hey, did you know?  Someone nominated you.  Pretty cool, huh?" He grins his buck-toothed grin.
[18:56] <Tim> Mara laughs, "Oh, the same.  I had to drag my husband along.  You know how he is about crowds." She pulls on the arm of a Short-Ear male over a head taller than her, with nut-brown skin and leaf-green hair.  Twitch, since pronouncing Twehchehzerren (itself about as embarassingly old-fashioned a name as you can have in Greenwood) is impossible for a man who once nearly had his throat slit,...
[18:56] <Tim> ...nods to the cave elf silently, the pale line of the scar catching the light.  Twitch isn't much for words.  Mara, though, is, "Have you voted before, Nienna?"
[18:57] <Idir_Haida> "I suppose so. This town COULD use some strong financial guidance, and who am I to say it shouldn't be me."
[18:57] <@Nienna_Carnes`ir> "This would be my first time in town for it, I'll admit," the long-ear states. "It's quite exciting, I think. At the very least, as much as anything else new is."
06[18:58] * Lestari has an idea, and pulls her mask up over her face, making sure it's secure. Perhaps it will help intimidate anyone planning voting fraud into changing their mind! She smiles behind the mask at her idea, though no one else can see that.
[19:00] <Tim> "Oh, goodness.  Well, this way, this way!" The innkeeper takes Nienna's hand and tugs her over to a table.  A number of simple, cloth bags lay there, and it's within Lestari's line of sight, as Elder Hanma explains to the island elf that people only get one bag, and can't drop more than four pebbles into the cauldron.
[19:05] <Tim> A few people flinch at Lestari's scary visage, especially one elfwife who tried to slip a second bag up her sleeve.
06[19:06] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir just takes the one bag. No need to circumvent the system or anything, after all.
06[19:07] * Idir_Haida already voted, not especially concerned with pomp or taking his time in this circumstance. He continues reading the textbook, though occasionally looking around at the crowd.
[19:08] <Idir_Haida> "I suppose so, though I'd rather be the best man for the job, not necessarily the most popular."
[19:08] <Idir_Haida> "Then again, I already am the best man for the job, so your assistance is appreciated."
[19:12] <Tim> Inside the bag are about a dozen large, smooth, round, white pebbles.  Each has an insignia in black on it, and the candidates name in runes on the other side.  The scorpion of Haida, for the merchant Idir Haida.  A lightning bolt, for Sariel the town sorceress.  Two crossed picks for the in-town representative of the Carnes'ir mines, Nienna.  Several different plants or animals for various...
[19:12] <Tim> ...local farmers and crofters.  A ring of outward-facing needles for Teilros Spine, the town doctor...who can be heard loudly threatening people with vengeance if they vote for him.  Crossed hammers, for Wayland the smith.  A toothed sword for Lestari.
[19:13] <Tim> The rest are pictures of finished goods, local merchants and artisans.
[19:14] <Sariel> A currently sleeping sorceress.  Zzzzzz.  She's tiny as is, barely 4'10 tall, slight as can be.  That's the fate of the storm slyphs.  Blue hair worn long, long wings lightly buzzing as the sleeps.  She's a long ear, clearly not from around here given the way she's got a slight accent, her snores in tune with her slight buzzing as she cuddles a pillow.
06[19:17] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir ends up dropping her four stones in. The scorpion, the lightning bolt, the crossed picks, and the toothed sword. She almost dropped in a vote for the doctor instead, but decided against it.
[19:17] <Tim> Meanwhile, some of the travelers from the inn are grouping together and speaking in low voices.  They wear a different make of clothes from the town people...one of them is nearly seven feet tall, in beetle-chitin armor and a horned helm, and from the air of importance, are likely representatives from other towns.
[19:19] <Tim> Elder Hanma taps Lestari on the arm with her cane, "Are you going to vote?  Be sure to vote for yourself, since somebody took the time to nominate you." Her wrinkled face stretches in a smile.
06[19:24] * Lestari quickly looks around, surprised at the sudden tap. "O-Oh! Alright, yes..." she mutters, grabbing a bag and looking through the nicely painted stones. Of course, first she drops in a stone with her own symbol, following the Elder's advice. Then, she drops in a stone with crossed hammers. After that, she's not entirely sure, so she drops in two she just likes the look of: The Scorpion and the Lightning Bolt.
06[19:29] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir nods to Lestari. "Enjoying the day so far?"
[19:29] <Sariel> A faint buzzing can be heard as the sorceress makes her way downstairs, fluttering sleepily.  "Is good morning" yawning
[19:30] <Tim> Elder Hanma is drawn away by a middle-aged male Short-Ear, as close to 'stout' as you have ever seen in an elf, with receding brown hair.  The two are swiftly engaged in animated conversation, bantering back and forth like old friends.
06[19:32] * Lestari looks up at the voice talking to her, the mask still on her face. "Oh! Hello! Yes, i'm doing alright, so far!"
[19:32] <Tim> "So, Idir, what'd you think of the other guys?" Beilwin asks, honestly.  The pig-farmer is more tolerable when he's genuinely talking important stuff and not being ingratiating.  He's a few centuries older than Idir, after all.
[19:33] <Sariel> "Is...what going on?" the girl flutter flutters.  Her wings are beating quickly, somehow compact as she looks around, golden eyes in a rather cute face framed by long sky blue hair, wearing her usual white robe, open backed and all.
[19:35] <Tim> People are all gathered around that big oak in the depths of the bluebell patch, sorceress!  They're throwing pebbles into a huge, black cauldron.
[19:35] <Sariel> "What is occuring?"
06[19:35] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir nods. "How many more still need to vote, do you think? I'm curious who's going to win."
[19:35] <Idir_Haida> "Lestari is as intimidating as always, so she'll make it in. Nienna is old money, so she's in as well. As for the last two, likely myself and the sylph, but it's hard to say for sure."
[19:35] <Sariel> Flutter flutter over.  Wind whistling in her hair.
01[19:38] <Lestari> "Oh, I don't know. I've mostly been making sure no one's cheating, not counting them..."
[19:38] <Tim> About 3/4 of the crowd seems to have already voted.
[19:39] <Sariel> "What is going on?"
[19:40] <Tim> Beilwin shrugs, "Things were bad around here before she showed up.  She might be strange...look, she's wearing that mask of hers, see?  But she's strong.  Besides, the Elder likes her."
[19:42] <Idir_Haida> "Of course. I was making no judgment, only observation."
[19:43] <Sariel> "Ah! No! Have not!" she beams.  "Can vote for self? Maybe?" flutter flutter.
[19:43] <Idir_Haida> "You can vote for yourself, yes."
06[19:43] * Sariel beams and puts in the lightning bolt, the scorpion, the pick and...she likes the sword too! She puts them all in.
[20:19] <Tim> Soon enough, all of the stones are in, and Elder Hanma stands before the cauldron, her hands on her cane, "If there is no one left to cast stones, let the counting begin!  Councillor Lleandrid of Birchbark, would you be so kind?" She addresses a tall, slender, Long-Ear woman whose skin is practically silver, carrying an alabaster staff engraved with runes and dressed in a white robe.  The...
[20:19] <Tim> ...Long-Ear bows, and raises her staff, speaking calmly and clearly, "Rampa Heam!".  Her voice rings like a bell, and the cauldron begins to shake, rattling as the pebbles bounce off its sides and swirl upward into a great cyclone of whirling stones.
[20:19] <Sariel> The girl flutters up a bit, wings buzzing quickly.
06[20:20] * Idir_Haida continues reading his book, confident in his own success.
06[20:21] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir watches with interest. It's quite a nice show, in any case.
06[20:23] * Lestari removes her mask and watches curiously.
[20:25] <Tim> "Umvau Heam!" She gestures with her staff, and the pebbles abruptly flow into a dozen or so hovering orbs, pressing closely to their mates.  Each displaying their symbol on the outward face.
[20:28] <Tim> The four solid winners are the lightning bolt, the scorpion, the toothed sword, and the crossed picks.  The crossed hammers came in fifth, but by a decent margin.
[20:28] <Tim> At least, judging by the size of the rock lumps.
[20:31] <Sariel> "Ah! I win?" A confused but smiling Sariel flutters over.  She's got a big smile on her face.
[20:32] <Tim> The Elder spreads her arms akimbo, "We have a new Town Council!"  Cheering erupts.  Teilros Spine, a tall, lean Short-Ear who wears his dark hair cropped unusually close beneath a black skullcap, looks visibly relieved.  The Elder continues, "Sariel, Lestari, Idir of Haida, and Nienna Carnes'ir will be your new representatives."
[20:32] <Sariel> "Am being glad to serve! Yes!"
[20:33] <Idir_Haida> "Very well then." He continues reading until prompted otherwise
06[20:34] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir looks around with a smile, incling her head to those around her. The house of Carnes'ir has always been good to bluebell, after all. It doesn't hurt to give back.
[20:35] <Tim> "...Which means please come up here so that you can meet the representatives from the other towns.  Don't worry, the celebrating should last all day." The Elder speaks drily, as Twitch and Wayland have already moved several kegs from the inn to the base of the Municipal Oak, in preparation.
[20:36] <Sariel> Fluttering up and landing, the slyph smiles and curtseys.
06[20:36] * Idir_Haida tucks his book away, stepping up to the front and nodding to the crowd.
06[20:36] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir heads on up, offering a curtsey of her own. "Wonderful, then."
06[20:36] * Lestari hurries up, smiling a bit, but still not entirely up on how town governments work in this part of the world.
[20:43] <Tim> "Hmph, I'm glad that we still have some sensible people in this town.  You're all full of energy." Elder pinches Idir's cheek, "That's what Bluebell needs.  Now...this is Lord Rellanthas, Guildmaster of Hub, and a dear friend of mine." She indicates the slightly heavyset elf she was talking to before, who smiles and bows, his hands pressed together, "We have representatives from Hub, Fernie,...
[20:43] <Tim> ...Pike Creek, Birchbark, the Hunter's Realm...who knows why he's here...and Fa-" She blinks, and peers around, "Rellanthas, did you not say you passed the delegate from Farls on the way here?"
6[20:44] * Idir_Haida grunts and rubs his cheek.
[20:46] <Tim> Rellanthas blinks, then speaks, in a measured, melodious voice.  Unusually deep and relaxed-sounding, "I did.  Of course, my horses were faster, but they should have arrived long since.  Farls lies between Bluebell and Hub, they should have been one of the first to arrive."
06[20:47] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir raises an eyebrow. "Do you believe there may have been... trouble?"
[20:49] <Tim> There's a cough, and Beilwin is suddenly at Nienna's elbow, "I think I know what happened, um, councilors."
[20:49] <Tim> "...I...well...I may have seen a wagon stuck in the ditch along the side of the road on my way here."
[20:50] <Sariel> "So...ah...what happen now?"
06[20:51] * Lestari nods. Something bad would have happened to stop a caravan like that.
[20:52] <Idir_Haida> "I'll assume there was nobody in the wagon when you saw it."
[20:52] <Tim> "Well...there...um...may have been someone..." Beilwin's long ears slowly droop under the scrutiny.  Elder Hanma glares at him.
[20:53] <Idir_Haida> "I should have finished. I was assuming that you had seen noone, because nobody is so irresponsible as to leave a wagon with occupants in distress."
[20:54] <Tim> "It was a Mellouk caravan, what was I supposed to do?"
[20:55] <Idir_Haida> "Caravan drivers are rarely overinvolved in politics. It's just common courtesty. Much like not killing messengers."
[20:56] <Tim> "Well, I thought they were merchants, not representatives." He continues, his voice rising into a nasally whine, "You told me they were nasty, what kinda elf wants that in his town, huh?"
[20:57] <Idir_Haida> "Hmm, a fair point. Well, I suppose we should investigate ourselves. If they're merchants or representatives."
[20:57] <Tim> Rellanthas rubs the bridge of his nose, "It was a Mellouk caravan they were traveling in.  That detail slipped my mind."
06[20:57] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir nods lightly. "Well, it seems the first thing we'll want to do is see what aid we can render, hmm?"
[20:57] <Tim> Elder Hanma nods, "Please.  Councilor Haida, you have wagons yourself, do you not?  Do you think you could take the others and go aid the representative from Farls?"
[20:58] <Idir_Haida> "Hmm, well, I haven't dispatched them yet on missions, so yes, we can use my own wagons."
[20:58] <Idir_Haida> "Having my House emblem on the sides will certainly help my reputation as well..." He starts muttering.
06[21:00] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir nods. "I'll want to fetch a few items before we leave, of course, if no one minds?"
[21:01] <Idir_Haida> "I do not, I'll go see to preparing the wagons."
[21:01] <Tim> "Of course, Councilor Carnes'ir." Hanma smiles, "Councilor...goodness, I remember when you were born.  What a loud baby you were.  When you come back, after all of this merriment has died down, come speak with me, all of you."
06[21:01] * Lestari nods. "I'm sure it'll go quick enough."
06[21:02] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir smiles. "We certainly will."
[21:02] <Sariel> The Slyph just listens, keeping quiet.  Trade's never been her forte.
[21:03] <Tim> "What can possibly go wrong?  These roads should be safe."  Rellanthas frowns suddenly, looking eastward, "Hanma, no word from Redmoor?  I had hoped...some sign of the town there..."  The old Short-Ear woman shakes her head quietly, "We have heard nothing from the east, not since the ghouls.  I am sorry too."
06[21:03] * Idir_Haida has gone off to prepare his wagons.
[21:04] <Tim> Your caravan guards and drivers are fortunately disciplined enough not to be drunk, and they set to with a will.
06[21:04] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir has gone off ot prepare herself--notably, to pick up her family pick. Never know when such a symbol might be necessary.
6[21:07] * Lestari doesn't have much besides what she already carries, and simply heads to wait for the others,.
[21:29] <Tim> At the other end of the main concourse, at the edge of the bluebell patch, it narrows.  Two hunters, volunteers in the local militia, guard the drawbridge that lowers into a ramp to make the town...elevated a good twenty feet off the ground at its lowest parts...accessible.  The stables are also mostly deadwood, and in little time at all, the wagons are readied at the bottom of the drawbridge, the
[21:29] <Tim>  guards are checking the tack of the horses, and you are ready to take the dirt road from the town to the Blue Serpent road.  Beilwin is with you, and as miserable as a wet owl after the Elder's tongue-lashing, "They were still on the Serpent when I saw them.  It wasn't far, right past my farm, I think."  Beilwin owns one of the outlying farms, where he raises pigs.
06[21:31] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir nods. "Then it shouldn't take us long at all to finish this, hopefully."
[21:34] <Tim> The Blue Serpent road rises before you, at a slight incline above the surrounding land, as if it was a mostly-buried snake in truth.  Two hundred feet wide, ornate scales of blue stone in a diamond-scaled pattern, stretching from north to south as far as the eye can see.  Mist curls from the damp fields on either side, creeping over the road and making it resemble a narrow tunnel.  Now and...
[21:34] <Tim> ...then, the mist parts.  You can see down into a little meadow, at one point, two of Beilwin's barns of sung-together saplings over a dug-out pit in the middle, while the desert Long-Ear chatters and the caravan drivers urge the horses onward.  Suddenly, the horses stop, stamping and throwing their heads from side to side as if clearing a foul scent from their nostrils.
06[21:38] * Lestari begins to look around, drawing her mask up over her head and placing a hand on the grip of her sword. "...What's wrong with the horses?"
06[21:38] * Idir_Haida frowns. "I do not know, this is not normal behavior for them."
06[21:40] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir holds on tight, twitching lightly.
[21:44] <Sariel> "Ah, am hearing...goat? Also...is in boots!"
06[21:44] * Idir_Haida 's ears twitch. "Footsteps."
[21:44] <Tim> A silhouette appears in the mist, scampering towards the caravan, letting out a wild shriek.
[21:44] <Tim> Sort of an "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
06[21:44] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir quirks an eyebrow over towards the shrieking, resting a hand on the handle to her family pick. "Who approaches?"
06[21:45] * Lestari draws her weapons, one in each hand, and steps out. "I doubt it's something that can be reasoned with!"
[21:46] <Tim> It's a Short-Ear woman in a prim white blouse and green skirt, her copper-red hair done up in a severe bun and her feet in high-topped, sensible boots.  She sees Lestari, and screams even more loudly, before hiccuping and swaying on her feet, starting to stumble and fall over at the sight of this new terror.
06[21:47] * Lestari growls slightly, and takes a few steps around the woman, to see if she can notice anything that could have been chasing her.
[21:47] <Sariel> "Ah! Do not be scared! Am not evil!"
06[21:47] * Idir_Haida stands. "Are you one of the representatives?"
06[21:48] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir resists the urge to smirk lightly as she goes to help the woman up. "Easy there, easy. We're from Bluebell, we're here to help."
[21:48] <Tim> She throws himself at Idir, weeping, then shaking him, "G-get these wagons out of here, hurry, they're right behind m-" "MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH~"  The sound floats out of the mist, followed by another, "BAAAAAAAAAAH~"
06[21:50] * Lestari focuses the sound and then tosses her large, ironwood boomerang straight at one of the noises.
[21:54] <Tim> More shapes appear in the mist.  They look like elves.  Shirtless, the men and women alike.  The first one that steps forward gets a mouthful of boomerang, and collapses.  The others MEEEEHHHHH angrily, the mist curling away from their curly horns and furred, digitigrade legs, cloven hooves tip-tapping against the stone.  There are at least a dozen, and you can see the hindquarters of...
[21:54] <Tim> ...another sticking out of a half-upturned wagon in the ditch, digging around inside the cabin itself.  All of them have hairy, pointed, goat-like ears.  Some hang down floppily to their shoulders, others stick up.  They have an eclectic collection of primitive weapons.  One of the larger ones is hefting a bronze hoe bent into a vaguely axelike shape as it swaggers forward.
[21:55] <Tim> "Leave your goods and your womEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHn, and leaaaave." It bleats.
06[21:56] * Idir_Haida scoffs. "We will not even leave you with your lives."
[21:56] <Sariel> "....Ah? Evil fey?"
06[21:57] * Lestari is now free of holding her boomerang and clutches the hilt of her blade in both hands, dropping into a more intense combat stance now that she's sure of the threat. "Not one of you is going to survive this, if you take another step closer!"
06[21:57] * Sariel looks to be floating now, lightning forming in her hands
06[21:58] * Idir_Haida draws a curved, stone sword from its sheath on his side.
06[21:58] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir eyes the oncoming fey, hefting her pick from her back. "I think, perhaps, you picked the wrong road to attack, it seems."
[22:01] <Tim> "Satyrs." One of the caravan drivers hisses in disgust.  Meanwhile, a squabble has broken out, the satyr who assumed the leadership role when their first spokesman was smashed is arguing with a leathery, female satyr whose dugs hang like pricked balloons on her chest, her horns just stubs, the same as the other females of their kind, "Just the women!?  MAAAAAH!  Make them leave the MEEEEEEEEHN too
[22:01] <Tim> , or we won't fight!" She smiles at Idir, revealing a mere handful of red-yellow teeth, "They looks tender, maaah~"  The male satyr snorts with disgust, "Then who would leeeeaaave?  Mahhhh!  It's foolish!"  The two face each other, MAAAAHing back and forth with increasing volume and vehemence, while the other satyrs mostly lean on their weapons and watch.  Some are wearing shiny new helmets...
[22:01] <Tim> ...stamped with the Mellouk crest, and one has a sandworm-tooth sword likely taken from the carriage's guards.
01[22:02] <Lestari> "Tch...Enough of this waiting. The Shark has tasted blood, and now begins the frenzy!" Shouts Lestari, before she charges straight at the nearest Satyr, sword held high above her head!
[22:03] <Idir_Haida> "I was actually just about to ask her to do that."
[22:03] <Tim> "MAAAAAAH!" The satyrs wail out a battle cry, and rush to the attack, swarming forward without anything resembling cohesion or tactics.
[22:05] <Tim> "Sir, should we guard the wagons themselves, in case they try to ransack them?" One of Haida's guards salutes him, a sandworm-tooth saber in his hand.
[22:06] <Idir_Haida> "Yes. Ensure that they do not come around our back line, nor pillage the wagons or people inside of them. We will give them nothing and take everything."
06[22:11] * Lestari swings with purpose, using flashy, easily noticeable swings that draw as much blood as possible and send it scattering around wildly. When fighting inferior opponents, and outnumbered, it's best to make your strikes as terrifying as possible. "The Shark will feast!"
06[22:12] * Idir_Haida mostly tries to make a show of blocking and parrying strikes, leaving the real work to the actual fighters.
06[22:15] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir fights with natural skill more than any trained ability, but she's a deft hand with that pick of hers--were things different, she could have been quite a stellar fighter, and she's still better than many, hopefully including such unworthy foes as these.
[22:26] <Tim> A satyr wielding an ironwood farmer's machete tries his hand at blocking Nienna's pick...but he miscalculates, the head goes right past his guard and into his torso, felling him with a surprised bleat.  One blocks one of Lestari's blows with a mocking "Maaaah~" and a suggestive leer, which becomes a mask of shock as her backswing takes its legs out from under it.  Identifying her as the...
[22:26] <Tim> ...worst threat, one of them drives a crude spear into her back, but her ivy maille blocks most of it...and then, as she pulls back for another try, Sariel's lightning arcs through her and the satyress collapses to her knees, the scent of burned hair rising up from her.s
06[22:30] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir continues her assualt, though her lack of true training shines through.
06[22:30] * Idir_Haida continues his defensive posturing
[22:42] <Sariel> The Slyph floats up, electricity flowing about her as she points and ZAAAAAAAPS the satyrs.  "S-STOP BEING EVIL!"
06[22:44] * Lestari swings her blade in two wide arcs, catching two Satyrs and slicing them apart, her Spirit Sword designed to destroy her opponents with ease.
[22:45] <Tim> The remaining five bleat in dismay, having been cut in half despite superior numbers and not getting anywhere near the wagons.  Their hooves skid on the stone as they hop backwards, and bounce away towards the downed Mellouk wagon, bleating dispiritedly, "Big brother, big brother!  HEEEEEEHlp us!"
[22:50] <Tim> The wagon creaks, and the satyr rummaging through it comes out with a jewelry box in his hands.  He's taller than the others, topping six feet without his horns, and his fur is jet-black.  A pair of curved knives hang at the beaded belt at his waist, and he wears an ill-fitting bronze cuirass over his torso.  He MAAAAAAAAAHs, and the lesser satyrs MAAAAAAH back, as more and more of them...
[22:50] <Tim> ...appear out of the mist behind this new leader, who saunters forward over the offal you have made of his people.  He leans down, picks up Lestari's boomerang from the skull of its victim, wipes it off with a lacy, stolen hankerchief, and hands it back to her, "I believe this is yours."
06[22:53] * Lestari glares him down through her mask still gripping her blade with both hands. "...Yeah, that's mine. Don't think me a fool that i'd come over and take it. That'd leave me open to attack."
[22:55] <Tim> He shrugs, and tosses it at her feet, "Very well.  Why are you knocking my people about, townswomAAAAHn?"
01[23:02] <Lestari> "Because you attacked that caravan and then attacked ours."
[23:02] <@Nienna_Carnes`ir> "Quite."
06[23:02] * Lestari is inches away from simply attacking again.
[23:03] <Tim> "Attaaaahcked?" The black satyr grins maliciously, "We were collecting tAAAAHxes." He gestures at all of the satyrs around him, a lot more than the first group, twenty or thirty, "We liiiiiiiive here."
01[23:03] <Lestari> "I don't see a camp on the road."
[23:04] <Tim> "The faaaahrms.  When we came here, there were nothing but ghoul-chewed bones and old corpses." It's true, you're in the farms well outside Bluebell proper, and they've been silent for a long time.
[23:05] <Tim> But they're still Bluebell farms!
01[23:07] <Lestari> "That still doesn't give you the right to attack us like common brigands."
[23:07] <Idir_Haida> "Asking for women seems extreme for taxes. You'll forgive me if I state that it sounds like the 'taxes' a common bandit takes."
[23:07] <@Nienna_Carnes`ir> "Those farms are still Bluebell farms, I should note. If you REALLY wish to tend them, you should've sent a representative to Bluebell to talk about proper ownership and taxation agreements." She quirks an eyebrow, resting her pick on her shoulder. "With money, not women. And men."
[23:09] <Tim> "Baaaah, we did that before, in Redmoor.  Lots of craaaahnberries.  Taxing is easier than baaahnditing." The satyr's brow furrows, "What makes them your faaahrms?"
[23:10] <@Nienna_Carnes`ir> "Well, aside from us being councilors of Bluebell, this is traditionally territory of Bluebell. And all the paperwork is there, of course, to make it nice and legal."
06[23:11] * Idir_Haida thinks for a few moments. "Well, while we're speaking amicably, I have a few ideas as to how to resolve this dispute."
[23:11] <Tim> The black satyr considers, tearing a piece of wagon curtain that was knotted like a cape around one of the other, fallen satyrs' shoulders, and munching on it thoughtfully, "Nobody dying is beeeehst."
[23:14] <Tim> "Thaaaaht's what Eldest Brother says."
[23:14] <@Nienna_Carnes`ir> "Eldest Brother?"
[23:15] <Tim> "Baaah, yes.  Who else?" His eyes narrow, "If it waaahs just me, I might have my little brothers and sisters tear you all apaaaahrt for killing some of us, but Eldest Brother would get aaaangry."
[23:16] <Idir_Haida> "Well, let us start with the discussion on the table first. That of the rights to these farms. Bluebell town retained these farms as part of its township prior to the plague and the subsequent ghoul uprisings. As you might imagine, with the two problems subsided, they would like to reexpand into these farms, that they consider their right."
[23:17] <Idir_Haida> "That, of course, does not necessarily mean that the city would simply force you out with no concern for your own needs. After all, the right of conquest is recognized as well, is it not?"
[23:18] <Tim> The black satyr bleats in agreement, chewing contemplatively as more and more of the curtain vanishes into his mouth.
[23:27] <Tim> He might just be agreeing to the 'right of conquest' part.  Up close, you can see that the satyrs have rectangular, flattened pupils, like goats.
[23:36] <Idir_Haida> "You said that you tried farming before. I can imagine that it was boring for those with your strength. The strength, after all, to be conquerors. Well what if I told you that I could use such strength to the benefit of all?"
[23:37] <Tim> "But we like benefiting us." Points out the satyr, slurping down the last of the curtain.
[23:37] <Tim> "Not aaaahll."
[23:37] <Idir_Haida> "There will be much benefit for you as well."
[23:38] <Tim> "How much?" His eyes narrow in calculation.
06[23:39] * Idir_Haida turns to one of his caravan guards, a senior one. "Ereth, step forward please."
[23:41] <Tim> Ereth steps forward, wearing a scowl bisected by a scar across the corner of her mouth, "Master Haida, what is your wish?"
06[23:42] * Idir_Haida claps him on the back. "Ereth here is a guard for my nascent trading empire. He has weapons and armor, he is paid well and on time, and he doesn't have to worry about strange shark-women bisecting him...often anyway."
[23:42] <Tim> *his
01[23:43] <Lestari> "My /sword/ is a Shark, not me..."
[23:44] <Tim> "Meehhhh.  He has a good sword." The satyr goes into a huddle with about four or five of the others, bleating back and forth.
[23:46] <Tim> "We could just take their swords."  "Aaaahnd the town!" "MAAAAAAH!" "MAAAAAAAAAH!" "Trade them the town for doing what the south-elf wants?"  "We could take the town if they don't do what we want, maaaaybe." "But Eldest Brother said that's stupid!"
6[23:51] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir frowns. "You really don't need to do that," she says lightly, almost quietly. "The town's not that important, surely. It would be much better for us if you just help us here," she pleads. "I beg of you, think clearly, don't strike out at us. You'll gain nothing, we'll gain nothing, it would be so very terrible." She sniffs lightly, her eyes beginning to tear up and her lip starts...
01[23:51] <Lestari> "If you try it, your corpses will be the fertilizer the town uses when they get back to reusing the farms."
[23:51] <@Nienna_Carnes`ir> to tremble just slightly. "Please..."
[23:52] <Tim> "Terrible?" The black satyr looks helplessly from the brothers on one side of him, to those on the other, taken aback.
[23:56] <@Nienna_Carnes`ir> "Please, cease this taxation and aggression. Join with Bluebell, as farmers or as guards for my fellow's caravans. It is the only way that helps us all and harms none." She sniffs lightly, trembling, like she's about to burst into tears. "Use your strength to help yourselves--and to help us, however little it may be."
[23:58] <Tim> His ears slowly lower, "Eldest Brother said it waaaahs foolish to attack the town.  I am Yaenger Gruf, boss of this bunch.  Can we keep the faaaahrms if we help you?  That's how we feed ourselves."
Session Time: Thu Oct 03 00:00:00 2013
06[00:02] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir nods. "That would, I think, be fine."
[00:02] <Tim> "Ahlso we want womeeeeehn."
[00:03] <Tim> "AND MEEEEEEEEEEEEHN!" Yells the same satyress from before, and again they begin bleating loudly at each other, as if trying to drown the other out."
06[00:03] * Idir_Haida turns to his companions. "Why do you think they're making this, of all things, a sticking point?"
06[00:05] * Idir_Haida ponders
06[00:05] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir glances over to Idir and gives a gentle shrug.
06[00:08] * Idir_Haida smiles, spreading his hands. "Surely you would agree that it is in bad faith to try to force us to disagree with you, when we're speaking so amicably."
[00:09] <Tim> Yaenger looks startled, then looks sidelong at Idir, and huffs discontentedly, "Bah.  Can you give us swords?"
[00:10] <Idir_Haida> "In time, certainly. With farms like these, you're certain to have more crops than you need to feed your people, and I have the means to barter for those excess crops, to trade elsewhere."
[00:11] <Tim> Yaenger strokes his chin, considering.
[00:12] <Tim> "And we can trade the cash for weapons?"
[00:12] <Idir_Haida> "You can indeed!"
[00:12] <Idir_Haida> "It is your right, of course, to protect your lives and your lands."
[00:13] <Tim> The black satyr looks uneasy, suddenly, "I waaaahnt to, but...it isn't my decision.  I'm the youngest, after aaaahll."
[00:13] <Idir_Haida> "Ah, of course, I would be delighted to negotiate with your..eldest brother you said?"
[00:14] <Tim> "Alder, Mendel, Yaenger.  The Brothers Gruf.  We're chieftains."
[00:16] <Idir_Haida> "Of course. When would be a good time to meet with Alder Gruf then?"
[00:17] <Tim> "I'll take you to him.  Tomorrow, we meet here.  No tricks."
[00:18] <Idir_Haida> "No tricks. I do not profit at all from tricking you, so I wouldn't do such a thing."
[00:20] <Tim> "Neither do I.  If you speak true, townself, you will meet Eldest Brother soon yourself." The satyr waves at his companions, who begin baaaahing again as they drag the damaged wagon out of the road...and off towards the farms.  It seems the Mellouks will never be recovering it, or the goods it was likely intended to carry.
1[00:20] <Lestari> "No tricks on your end either, or the shark will gladly frenzy once more." Lestari says, gruffly, placing her sword back in it's loop and finally retrieving her Boomerang.
06[00:20] * Idir_Haida pops his neck, negotiations are always tiring.
[00:21] <Tim> He snorts at her, "Eldest Brother can do that too.  Fish aren't scary.  You just pull them out by the tails, and hit 'em with rocks.  We had to do it in Redmoor when the dead ones attaaaahcked us."
[00:22] <Tim> "When we came here, along the river."
06[00:22] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir continues to keep her eyes moistened and generally looking pitiful until the Satyrs are fully away. Appearances must be kept up, after all.
01[00:23] <Lestari> "Sharks like mine don't swim in rivers, Goat."
[00:25] <Tim> He waggles his little stub of a tail in her direction, "Baaah!  You won't be so mean when you meet my brothers!"
[00:26] <Tim> The satyrs depart, leaving the redheaded Short-Ear female, who is beginning to stir.
01[00:26] <Lestari> "And your brothers won't bleat anymore with a boomerang in their face if they try anything!" Lestari shouts, before finally giving up the verbal fight and walking back to the wagon.
06[00:27] * Lestari looks down at the redheaded elf, still wearing her blood-spatted Skull Mask, blood dripping from the Shark-Toothed sword at her side.
[00:27] <Tim> She opens her eyes...and begins screaming again, bringing her knees up to her chest and kicking at the orange-haired island elf with her boots.
06[00:28] * Lestari steps back and pulls off her mask. "...Oh, right. Sorry! The Fey are gone now, don't...worry or anything."
06[00:29] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir dries off her eyes adn straightens up. "Ah, well, that could have gone worse, certainly."
[00:29] <Idir_Haida> "You did well turning that negotiation around. I think this will end up very well for us."
06[00:30] * @Nienna_Carnes`ir goes over to the Elf. "Now then. The fey are gone, as my companion here's said." She smiles to the short ear and offers a hand. "Nienna Carnes'ir, Councilor of Bluebell. These are my companions and fellow Counsilors, Idir Haida, Lestari, and Sariel."
[00:33] <Tim> "Technically, one remains, although I consider her presence far from inimical." The female elf takes a breath, adjusts her hair, and accepts the offered hand, sitting up, "Felistree Ruathe, Councilor of Farls.  I...goodness, do you mean I missed everything?  The entire election?  Well, I suppose complaining is somewhat gauche under the circumstances, isn't it?  Of course it is."
[00:34] <@Nienna_Carnes`ir> "Well, you haven't missed the celebrations, at least. Hopefully, anyway."
06[00:35] * Lestari is happy not to be the one to explain everything, as she pulls out a cloth and wipes the blood off of her mask, smiling at it happily. Once it's clean, she raps upon it with a knuckle and whispers "That's at least 5 ghosts i'm safe from tonight, thanks to you.", before hanging it back around her neck.
[00:36] <Tim> "M-my congratulations.  Satyrs, on the Blue Serpent!  It's unheard of!  Normally, they stay along the edge of the Inland Sea, it's just ridiculous...why would they come here?  Someplace with decent people instead of...lawless, savage..."
[00:37] <@Nienna_Carnes`ir> "They found a place with NO people, it seems. The outlying farms. Hopefully we can turn their presence into an advantage, hmm." She nods over ot Idir. "I believe I heard it said once that any problem is just oppurtunity in disguise?"
[00:40] <Tim> Beilwin is busy trying to be invisible any time the delegate from Farls glances in his direction.
[00:42] <Tim> "Can we return to your town, please?  I confess, celebrations are not my usual sort of thing, and I need to speak to your Elder, but I will try to...bust a leg, or whatever.  The land knows, I could use strong alcohol after all this."
[00:43] <@Nienna_Carnes`ir> "Certainly. No reason to remain here much longer, hmm?"
[00:43] <Idir_Haida> "I'm sure everyone wants to rejoin the celebrations."