Bret
Peasant
Posts - 195
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Joined - September 2016
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Post by Bret on Apr 7, 2018 17:33:51 GMT
Bret shook his head in disappointment an left the room. Hurrying to grab his belongings and join the others outside while the fire Pyro built was beginning to burn.
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Harlan
Peasant
Posts - 146
Likes - 32
Joined - April 2018
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Post by Harlan on Apr 7, 2018 22:28:39 GMT
Tim noticed the paper Harlan had quickly put away. Suspicious though he was about the mysterious art of writing, he wondered why Harlan had been so engrossed. "I was looking for you. You said we should get movin', and I agree. There's no sense waiting 'ere to be found, and some of the others don't seem to be in a hurry to go. If you go, Pete will go for sure, and I reckon that lad Donal is ready to move too. Between us, I reckon we can get the rest movin', an' if not, we should leave 'em be'ind. I'm not putting my neck in a noose because the others are slow to move. It ain't safe to stay." He paused for a moment. "Why'd you take ol' Longinch's papers? What use is paper to the likes o' us? I suppose I could wipe my arse with it, but it ain't no good after that." “You’ve got the right idea, Tim. Too much time spent here and we’ll end up just like ol’ Inchfield.” He brushed himself off, trying to play it off like he hadn’t just been terrified. He joined Tim in going to collect the other. “I thought Longinch might have left something important in his papers, but alas, they’d be better use cleaning your ass.”
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The Raven
Administrator
Posts - 1,119
Likes - 230
Joined - December 2015
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Post by The Raven on Apr 7, 2018 22:54:00 GMT
Alyn had been on his way out, but he followed Donal and Tim to the pile of tools that Tim had found to see if there was anything worth having and that would fit in his saddlebags. He scanned the pile for blades that could be useful and examined the quality of the saddles. His own saddle was beginning to wear so another better quality one would be good. While he was there, his thoughts turned more and more to Longinch's armor, now dangling uselessly from an old oak only a mile from here. Observation: 20 (Success) None of the saddles seem to be of impractical quality. These were millers, not knights, so none of them were designed with jousting in mind, but they would keep Alyn's rump comfortable.
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Apr 8, 2018 8:40:49 GMT
Alyn grabbed the saddle that seemed to be in the best condition and selected a couple of blades. Carrying his selections he walked outside and made for his horse.
"Time to go lads." he said to the others. "If Pyro gets that fire going we're going to have company. I don't fancy ending up like Longinch."
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Apr 8, 2018 9:10:23 GMT
“You’ve got the right idea, Tim. Too much time spent here and we’ll end up just like ol’ Inchfield.” He brushed himself off, trying to play it off like he hadn’t just been terrified. He joined Tim in going to collect the other. “I thought Longinch might have left something important in his papers, but alas, they’d be better use cleaning your ass.” "Hah! I ain't never seen no piece o' paper good for anythin' else. Come on, let's get out o' here. " He looked Harlan over for a moment. "We'll be needin' a new leader if we're all to stick together. Who do you think should take charge?"
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Harlan
Peasant
Posts - 146
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Joined - April 2018
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Post by Harlan on Apr 8, 2018 9:16:51 GMT
“Lead us, as in take over for Longinch?” Harlan took a moment to think over what Tim has just said, the prospect of replacing Inchfield seemed dubious. “I’m not sure I can answer that, or that my answer would be worth anything. Whoever is going to take over will do it with muscle, one way or another.” He gave Tim a look of concern, “I’d rather avoid getting caught in the middle of that, wouldn’t you?”
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Apr 8, 2018 9:25:54 GMT
"Aye, but someone 'as to do it, cos we can't survive without a leader, and it ain't gonna be me. I can 'unt our dinner and tell a fine tale, but I'm no leader. Thought you might 'ave wanted the job, the way you took the papers. But if they're as useless as you say...."
He frowned. "It don't look good. We'll be 'ere on the morrow if we don't move. Fast."
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Harlan
Peasant
Posts - 146
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Joined - April 2018
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Post by Harlan on Apr 8, 2018 9:38:24 GMT
“I’m no leader, Tim. I have a hard enough time leading a horse in the right direction, let along our merry band of villainy.” He ran his fingers through his birds nest of a beard. “If it we’re a play perhaps, then I could be the lead.” He made a flourish with his hand and hopped from one foot to the other. “I’ve played aegon the conqueror, and watched lords cower from the fear of the dragon on my tongue.” He seemed to be lost in his own fantasy, staring off at nothing in particular.
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Apr 8, 2018 9:50:06 GMT
Tim coughed to attract attention Harlan's attention.
"But you don't want to play the role of leader, hey? Fair enough. But somebody must."
He thought for a moment. His head had begun to ache. He hadn't thought about things this hard, in, well, ever, and the unaccustomed mental activity was beginning to take its toll.
"How good an actor are you? If we get everyone together, could you use an actor's wiles to force a leader's vote? Damned if I know who the best choice is, though."
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Harlan
Peasant
Posts - 146
Likes - 32
Joined - April 2018
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Post by Harlan on Apr 8, 2018 19:38:49 GMT
“My good sir,” he said sarcastically, “I am the finest mummer you will find in the seven kingdoms. I can inspire young men to fight, old men to die, and beautiful women to make love.” He seemed particularly proud of the last point. “Getting this band of criminals to pick a leader is but a trifle. The real question is as you put it is, who could even do the fuckin’ job?”
Tim and Harlan walked out to the front of the mill, hoping to find the group gathered together.
“Listen up boys!” He shouted to whomever could hear. “Longinch ain’t coming back from the dead to tell us what to do. It’s time we start deciding for ourselves, or end up hanging along with our fearsome leader. We have two choice way I see it, either we dissolve into nothing, each heading our own ways, or we band together again, and keep the gold flowing. Now... who here thinks he’s got the stones to fill ol’ Longinch’s trousers?”
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Apr 8, 2018 19:59:29 GMT
Apparently Barley hadn't heard him or had chosen not to answer his question, so Donal stood scowling out into the surroundings for a few moments after Tim wandered off. Seven hells, why did nobody take him seriously? He was the only one in this group the vision to see things for how they were.
He was thus pleasantly surprised when Harlan gave him the opportunity to rectify this deficit of respect. The crowd didn't seem sizeable yet, just him, Harlan, Tim, Barley, Bret, and Alyn, but perhaps there were others in the mill still who would overhear, and he figured there'd be an advantage to speaking first.
"None of us can do things on our own we can do with all of us." He said, making sure to speak louder this time so he didn't get ignored again. "So I say we stick together. As for our leader, I say you will find no better choice than me. We went about things wrong under Longinch. We were getting by, sure, but what is eating rations of rabbit and surviving off coppers worth? The smallfolk aren't our enemy, and they aren't rich. It's the lords we should be stealing from, and I have an idea or two about how we could go about doing that. My leadership would bring real coin to those of you who care for that, and right the wrongs that the nobles have done to many of us to boot."
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Apr 8, 2018 20:11:45 GMT
Tim had been hoping that he would have to stop doing too much thinking soon. He looked around for Pete, sure the pyromaniac at least would back whoever Harlan supported as leader.
Sometimes Tim forgot that Donal was a man grown, because he looked so young. So he was surprised when the man spoke so confidently. Perhaps he hadn't given the man enough credit. He rubbed his aching head while he considered the situation. Perhaps Donal had the right of it, after all.
"I'd drink to that," he said, wishing he had a wineskin to hand. "Plenty o' lords can spare to lose some gold."
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Boros
Knight
Jon
Posts - 456
Likes - 205
Joined - May 2016
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Post by Boros on Apr 8, 2018 20:18:33 GMT
"I ain't gonna lead." Pete said, coming around the corner, he had a lot torch in his left hand and his flail in the right, just for the dramatic effect. "But I ain't gonna follow the boy cause he got some pretty words about stealing from lords and whatnot. I ain't gonna follow no one whos not been with us since the fucking beginning. So it's Harlan or Vex and I'll fuck up anyone else who throes their fucking name into the hat.
"Maybe Barley..." He muttered discreetly.
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Barley
High Lord
Posts - 809
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Joined - May 2016
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Post by Barley on Apr 8, 2018 20:25:26 GMT
“Maybe we should decide this away from here, they will follow Vex’s trail here soon and were are going to be stood her talking about leaders, doesn’t matter who leads our corpses.” Barley said with a frown.
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Apr 8, 2018 20:25:36 GMT
Donal had been going to respond to Tim when Pete interrupted.
Donal found Pete disturbing, but he also wasn't going to let an insane man stand in the way of his vision of punishing the nobility for their wrongdoings. "Well Pete, happens my name is in the hat." Donal told him. "And I ain't withdrawing it just cause you happen to not be for it."
He moved his hand toward his blade, fully intending to be ready to defend himself if Pete started something foolish, which seemed probable.
Despite agreeing with what Barley offered, he wasn't going to back down from Pete. That would look weak and mean they would continue to not respect him.
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