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Re: To Find a Way Home (Mamono Assault Force)
"I suppose that's true," Orgrosh agreed to Bakan's reasoning about the reaction of others to Rebecca's presence, and then seemed content where that subject was concerned.
When they'd arrived at the mansion, and Bakan had made his claim regarding Rebecca, the butler didn't seem phased. That was perhaps his default state, judging by how little seemed to inspire any readily apparent reaction in him, but even working with that assumption wouldn't make him any easier to put up with. He also didn't seem to have much to say on the matter, however, and simply turned to lead Bakan and his companions to Dove without acknowledging Bakan's statement about Rebecca.
"Mmmmm, maybe that's a good idea, but it's also much easier said than done, and the unfortunate reality of the situation is that... The common folk simply don't have any real power in Badaria, at least not in any of the cities or the larger towns. Not even with the few elected offices and the occasional public poll. Maybe in the villages it could be different, but there.... Well, if the nobles are conservative, then those in more rural areas have always seemed even more so, though I admit to having very limited experience in such areas. Would you say otherwise?" Given Bakan's most recent history, it might be hard to come up with a good example of a rural area that hadn't been just as racist as the people in Cheydin, even if they were a little bit less aggressive about it. The people of Manmere Marsh who had been ready to lynch Samarta and Inka on sight, the people of Bonmoure Lake who had been ready to execute Orgrosh on a mere suspicion of a crime, and many instances before then. There had been examples otherwise, if rarely, but the bad would certainly outweigh the good.
"Well, yes, traditions certainly play a part in the enmity between larger groups," Dove replied thoughtfully, while Bakan would feel Orgrosh's gaze boring into him, "and not just because we Badarians have been so conditioned to hate anyone who isn't human. We've been in a state of war with Crolia for... Ever, almost, and retaking all of the more verdant land bordering the desert didn't exactly sit well with the people of Anudor any better than it did with the Su-Ku-Ta. Our forays into the jungle weren't exactly made with the intent of keeping peace with the locals either. In the bigger picture.... Well, look at what's happening in Crolia right now. I think that's a perfect example of how differing traditions can cause issues when both sides take them seriously enough."
"That's exactly my point," Dove replied coolly, "it shouldn't matter at all.... But if it leaves this room that I am not purely human, and any of my rivals catch wind of it, my title would be revoked and I would be executed, so... Please don't go and spread that around." Pausing to clear his throat after his request, Dove continued; "That is, in my mind, a much more progressive opinion. I've finally found at least one person who agrees with me."
When they finally moved on to Dove's request, to guard a man working to improve the conditions of women, Dove threw up his hands in an exaggerated shrug, obviously as frustrated at the idea of hiring assassins to kill someone for that as Bakan found it perplexing. "Exactly!" he exclaimed, "sometimes my countrymen just.... Completely baffle me!" Dove took a moment to sigh, calming himself, before continuing in a much more level tone, "I guess they just don't like the idea of change at all. To some, having one you viewed as an inferior treated like an equal is the worst thing imaginable, and they'll do whatever they can to prevent it.
"Anyway.... Thank you, for agreeing to help. I don't exactly meet many mercenaries or adventurers, and going out to find someone like that would tip off that I learned of their plot. The less complicated things become, the better, and if you or any of your friends can make my friend stay alive long enough to free him from the threat, I'll gladly compensate you all for your work." Dove seemed surprised when Bakan openly asked for a favor in turn for his service, but listened intently to his two requests anyway.
"Do not say the name a third time!" he would interrupt urgently after the second time that Bakan said Sivicine's name, after which he would more evenly add; "sorry.... Continue." When Bakan had finished, Dove's lips would be pursed, and for a moment he would be silent. "Your first request isn't a problem," he said, "I can point you to a good hotel or inn, or a hostel, or even put you up myself, though I suspect that my butler will object to that last option," he said, briefly adding a jovial note despite the dark look and tone that now undercut his every word and motion. "Your second request.... I can help, yes. And I will. But.... Who is Rebecca? The raccoon, presumably?" he asked, Bakan having only told the butler Rebecca's name by that point, and once that was confirmed Dove continued; "I don't know how I can help you precisely, but I'll go over the materials I've gathered. At the very least, I could help summon her, and you could question her and maybe get her to reverse the transformation, but... Binding a god isn't a small favor, nor is it something to be done lightly. You'd.... Better have a good plan if you really want to go through with something that drastic."
Clearing his throat, Dove leaned back slowly, lowering his hands to the arms of his chair. "As for the Nightstalker... All I know are rumors. You could probably hear more from the common folk, but they would probably tell you things that are even more outlandish than what I've heard. The Nightstalker is an assassin, one of the best, but they've been operating for so long that they're either very old, very long lived, or merely a title that's been taken up repeatedly. They say he can't be seen or heard, that he moves as a shadow and leaves his victims dead without ever making a sound. There are a lot of stories, but basically I expect either elaborate tricks or magic to be involved. They allegedly rarely leave anyone other than their target dead, but they have killed people who get in their way before too. Obviously you'll have to be careful."
Bakan: HP = 102/120, PP = 45/45, EP = 65/85, Status = Fine
NPC Stats
Samarta: HP = 54, PP = 67, EP = 67, Status = Fine, Pregnant
Inka: HP = 51, PP = 61, EP = 44, Status = Fine
Rebecca: A coon. A fluffy fluffy coon.
Orgrosh: HP = 97, PP = 49, EP = 72, Fine
Sarah: Fine
NPC Stats
Samarta: HP = 54, PP = 67, EP = 67, Status = Fine, Pregnant
Inka: HP = 51, PP = 61, EP = 44, Status = Fine
Rebecca: A coon. A fluffy fluffy coon.
Orgrosh: HP = 97, PP = 49, EP = 72, Fine
Sarah: Fine
"I suppose that's true," Orgrosh agreed to Bakan's reasoning about the reaction of others to Rebecca's presence, and then seemed content where that subject was concerned.
When they'd arrived at the mansion, and Bakan had made his claim regarding Rebecca, the butler didn't seem phased. That was perhaps his default state, judging by how little seemed to inspire any readily apparent reaction in him, but even working with that assumption wouldn't make him any easier to put up with. He also didn't seem to have much to say on the matter, however, and simply turned to lead Bakan and his companions to Dove without acknowledging Bakan's statement about Rebecca.
"Mmmmm, maybe that's a good idea, but it's also much easier said than done, and the unfortunate reality of the situation is that... The common folk simply don't have any real power in Badaria, at least not in any of the cities or the larger towns. Not even with the few elected offices and the occasional public poll. Maybe in the villages it could be different, but there.... Well, if the nobles are conservative, then those in more rural areas have always seemed even more so, though I admit to having very limited experience in such areas. Would you say otherwise?" Given Bakan's most recent history, it might be hard to come up with a good example of a rural area that hadn't been just as racist as the people in Cheydin, even if they were a little bit less aggressive about it. The people of Manmere Marsh who had been ready to lynch Samarta and Inka on sight, the people of Bonmoure Lake who had been ready to execute Orgrosh on a mere suspicion of a crime, and many instances before then. There had been examples otherwise, if rarely, but the bad would certainly outweigh the good.
"Well, yes, traditions certainly play a part in the enmity between larger groups," Dove replied thoughtfully, while Bakan would feel Orgrosh's gaze boring into him, "and not just because we Badarians have been so conditioned to hate anyone who isn't human. We've been in a state of war with Crolia for... Ever, almost, and retaking all of the more verdant land bordering the desert didn't exactly sit well with the people of Anudor any better than it did with the Su-Ku-Ta. Our forays into the jungle weren't exactly made with the intent of keeping peace with the locals either. In the bigger picture.... Well, look at what's happening in Crolia right now. I think that's a perfect example of how differing traditions can cause issues when both sides take them seriously enough."
"That's exactly my point," Dove replied coolly, "it shouldn't matter at all.... But if it leaves this room that I am not purely human, and any of my rivals catch wind of it, my title would be revoked and I would be executed, so... Please don't go and spread that around." Pausing to clear his throat after his request, Dove continued; "That is, in my mind, a much more progressive opinion. I've finally found at least one person who agrees with me."
When they finally moved on to Dove's request, to guard a man working to improve the conditions of women, Dove threw up his hands in an exaggerated shrug, obviously as frustrated at the idea of hiring assassins to kill someone for that as Bakan found it perplexing. "Exactly!" he exclaimed, "sometimes my countrymen just.... Completely baffle me!" Dove took a moment to sigh, calming himself, before continuing in a much more level tone, "I guess they just don't like the idea of change at all. To some, having one you viewed as an inferior treated like an equal is the worst thing imaginable, and they'll do whatever they can to prevent it.
"Anyway.... Thank you, for agreeing to help. I don't exactly meet many mercenaries or adventurers, and going out to find someone like that would tip off that I learned of their plot. The less complicated things become, the better, and if you or any of your friends can make my friend stay alive long enough to free him from the threat, I'll gladly compensate you all for your work." Dove seemed surprised when Bakan openly asked for a favor in turn for his service, but listened intently to his two requests anyway.
"Do not say the name a third time!" he would interrupt urgently after the second time that Bakan said Sivicine's name, after which he would more evenly add; "sorry.... Continue." When Bakan had finished, Dove's lips would be pursed, and for a moment he would be silent. "Your first request isn't a problem," he said, "I can point you to a good hotel or inn, or a hostel, or even put you up myself, though I suspect that my butler will object to that last option," he said, briefly adding a jovial note despite the dark look and tone that now undercut his every word and motion. "Your second request.... I can help, yes. And I will. But.... Who is Rebecca? The raccoon, presumably?" he asked, Bakan having only told the butler Rebecca's name by that point, and once that was confirmed Dove continued; "I don't know how I can help you precisely, but I'll go over the materials I've gathered. At the very least, I could help summon her, and you could question her and maybe get her to reverse the transformation, but... Binding a god isn't a small favor, nor is it something to be done lightly. You'd.... Better have a good plan if you really want to go through with something that drastic."
Clearing his throat, Dove leaned back slowly, lowering his hands to the arms of his chair. "As for the Nightstalker... All I know are rumors. You could probably hear more from the common folk, but they would probably tell you things that are even more outlandish than what I've heard. The Nightstalker is an assassin, one of the best, but they've been operating for so long that they're either very old, very long lived, or merely a title that's been taken up repeatedly. They say he can't be seen or heard, that he moves as a shadow and leaves his victims dead without ever making a sound. There are a lot of stories, but basically I expect either elaborate tricks or magic to be involved. They allegedly rarely leave anyone other than their target dead, but they have killed people who get in their way before too. Obviously you'll have to be careful."
