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The giant still stands in the gateway swinging its huge club. "Yoo'm Goin'? it shouts in your direction, before saying over its shoulder, but without taking its eyes from you, to someone inside the walls. "Bishi enzame, neenzamat Alhevro." |
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Yuri walks as calmly as he possibly can towards Rolf, trying to make sure his movement is not seen as another running in to join the fray, though Yuri still timidly grips his sword. Stopping near Rolf, Yuri leaves the giant's question unanswered, instead quietly asking Rolf a question of his own. "We can't leave, can we?" |
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Seeming to take little note of the actual progression of the battle Kerim squints his eyes toward the castle, his hands absently grasping something that isn't there. "Trades being gone are replaced with blood, a price of passage their toll" Then he tilts his head questioningly to those nearby "Tell more to me this custom whereby women harry their men to arms yet call them down upon the moments notice the sword of courage is drawn. It indeed is unfamiliar to me in whole for in my land the custom is to say what one means." |
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Rolf looks pained and only gives Yuri a small portion of his attention. "It doesn't look like it." He had a hand on his bow, but maybe things can still be avoided. In a loud, commanding voice, "Callum, Herloch, step off!" |
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Madelyn watches as the tension increases, she is worried what Callum is going to do, it is obvious that no-one wants this fight. Taking her eyes away from the gate for a moment she turns to Elsbeth, "Elsbeth, can’t you stop him", she says with a worried look, "maybe he’ll listen to you". She turns back to the gate not waiting for the young woman to respond. |
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Hearing Rolf's command Herloch steps back, but his mace is ever ready. He says, mostly to Rolf, "Those words the giant used are Orcish. I know it as I have been studying the language when I have had the chance. Bishi means flat face, insulting slang referring to humans. |
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Whilst reluctant to do anything that will tip the situation over the edge into violent conflict, Edgar nevertheless is moved to cast one urgent thought in the Warden's direction ... "If this place is where we are supposed to meet your Earl, then we'd best come to some arrangement with these creatures quickly," he says softly, for Rolf's ears alone, though anyone close by will undoubtedly pick up the exchange. |
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"The Earl wouldn't have hired or treatied with these people already would he?" Mandrake ponders aloud. He then calls back "By whose law do you claim ownership?" |
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The giant frowns a little and squints at the Gnome who is shouting towards him. "Boy, roight of konquest." he shouts in reply, swinging his club-mace about. |
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Elsbeth nods at Madelyn and moves her horse forward. "Callum," she calls out. "Please Callum. Listen to Rolf. Come back," she adds in her native tongue. Despite her misgivings, she moves forward, sheathing her weapon. "We do not want your land," she tells the giant. "We only want passage through. Please." |
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"I'm wondering who he 'konquest'ed", Yuri quietly adds. |
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"Humm" Mandrake ponders and then turns his head to speak with Rolf "I'm not sure about the last word, I heard it before when I was talking to the doghead that we almost captured" he lowers his voice and glances back towards the ladies, whispering "Not the one that meet with the unfortunate accident." "I think it's either the name the dogheads use for themselves, or the name of the one that got away. "Anyway, basically the doghead is trying to control the giant creature I think. He said that we are enemies and he, or his people perhaps are friends. "If you can keep the others under control, then I would them with your permission. I'm sure that I can charm the giant into being friendly and if it comes to it, I'm small enough to avoid his swings. "I would rather risk myself than make an enemy of someone who is simply being used." OOC: if there are no objections from Rolf, then Mandrake will approach as closely as needed (can't remember the range off hand) and then cast charm person on the giant. Whether it works or not, he'll explain (in simple terms that the dogheads have tricked him to get inside his home and kill him. If the spell worked, all well and good, if not (and this starts into next round I'm sure) then he'll cast an illusory doghead behind the giant, poised to attack him. |
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The big man stands up, quivering, obviously fighting his every instinct to strike out. After a moment, he seems to calm and gain control of himself. He points at the giant with his sword. "You are the friend of dogheads - I call blood-feud on you and your people. You and your dogheads will feed the Morrigan and her kin - this I swear, by the Goddess, by Lugh, whose gifts I share and by the Battle Crow herself, for you're belonging to her, now!" Callum flips his sword over his shoulder, turns and walks back towards his companions. |
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The Giant nods towards Elsbeth as she approaches and seems about to speak, when Callum interupts and storms out. "And what makes ye think I dinna already belong to the battle crow herself then, boy?" he shouts after Callum in Gaelic. with a "Begging your pardon, miss" to Elsbeth. "A friend to all, I am that are under the care of my hospitality. As is right for any man. And if ye call blood feud for that, then I think the less of ye." he continues shouting after Callum in Gaelic. |
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Callum turns around again and responds in Gaelic. "I would have no feud with you if it were not for the company you keep. The dogheads are the sworn enemies of my blood. Renounce them and I will make amends to both you and the gods for my words, stand by them and I stand by my oath!" |
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"A guest is a guest - and once they have been given the safely of my house and my land, must have it at the price of my honour." then turning to Elsbeth, "Is that not right, maidre?" |
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Elsbeth nods at the Giant's comment. "Once the oath of Guesting is given, they become his charges until they leave the sanctuary of home," she agrees in Gaelic. She thinks a moment. "If he were to offer you hearth and bed, then you'd be havin' to honor the sanctuary as well," she tells Callum, continuing in her mother tongue. "By the Laws, you'd be havin' to set aside the the Blood Oath while there, in honor of his house. Once all are away from his house and land, only then would the Oath would be in force." She pauses. "Or you could fight him and all in his house now. T'would be your choosing." |
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Kerim ponders the situation mouthing quietly "By right of conquest"..."Mistaking us for bandits" and then smiles. "Warden Rolf, strange is it not the embattlement upon which we seek harbour be strangely damaged, by the look of which quite recently. Further does this Giant name us as raiders, does he not. Hazard I would that the very raiders he speaks of are those that dwelt here not long past come to perhaps recover what is by law, not by conquest...Doubt that I do the Giant or the dogheads can pick us from any other 'Bishi'. I feel that much useful information can be gained from keeping the pretence in place if you take my meaning efendi" Kerim looks slyly at Rolf and nods, his talent for finding a weakspot in a sellers pitch alerting him to the incongruencies. |
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"Don't you try to give me lessons on hospitality, lass" he calls to Elsbeth. "Well, giant, you may well observe the laws of hospitality, but you show little wisdom in your choice of guests. I too know the laws. Perhaps the best way to stop a fight would be for you to offer us hospitality also." |
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Elsbeth blushes a deep red at Callum's retort. Still, she cannot hide a smile as he asks specifically for what she wanted. |
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Rolf barely manages to keep up with all of the by-play. He nods acceptance of Mandrake's plan and grins slightly at the suggestion the giant extend his hospitality to us as well as the dogheads. But then the thought of Callum and Yuri amongst the dogheads drains his appreciation of the suggestion. Besides, there is a meeting to make..... OOC: John, I seem to have lost track, how far must we go to make our meeting and when is it? |
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Peter, still leading his beasts of burden, moves forward slowly with the rest ... |
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Your meeting is about 400 yards beyond the Giant's house, where the road meets the coast, and is the day after tomorrow - on the first day of the new month. I will post a map of the area later - look on the website under features etc ... Here is a reprise of the description of the earthworks: The earthworks are quite small - they are round and cover an area of about 25yards in diameter. There is a ditch of about 7-8 feet deep and a corresponding embankment inside the ditch. There is a poor quality patchwork fence filling the gaps in the earthworks where the embankment has partly collapsed into the ditch. In those places the distance between the bottom of the ditch and the top of the bank is perhaps only 7-8 feet, although there is a 5 feet tall fence sitting in the gap. There is one entrance, and a large single gate blocks that - it is about 7 feet wide and 10 feet tall. For the map, go the Galinia game website, select the Galinia link and then the Features link |
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All the shouting too and fro in Gaelic completely loses Yuri, who cannot speak a word of the language. Not wanting to be left out he mutters something in Gypsy speak, but besides that stays quiet, trying to figure out what is going on by the bits he does understand. |
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