CH. 15: There and Back Again

[HorizonsDream]

"We will get it removed tomorrow," Jocelyn says. "The priestess there was...I don't think I have a nice way of putting it."

[Breila]

Ouragana looks at Jocelyn, but says nothing. "They nearly got at each other's throats" doesn't seem a good thing to say.

[spyguy1503]

Gallath sits next to Sierra, if possible. "It was quite the catfight" he says, amused.

[JadedDM]

Jocelyn, Ouragana, Val, Baeros, Gallath, Drav (Bullring, captain's quarters)
Baeros purchases the axe for 200 gold pieces. He arrives next to dinner after Jocelyn and Ouragana. Compared to them and the dwarven sisters, he almost seems out of place in his studded armor and reeking of going without a bath for the past two and a half weeks. Luckily, Terra is too engrossed in her drink to notice Baeros ogling her.

Val is the next to arrive, having spent 3 coppers on a bath, as well. Her chain mail shines, having been recently polished. Pouring herself some wine, she has a seat.

Gallath is the next to arrive, having also bathed. He notes that Sierra is sitting at the head of the table, and Terra has claimed the seat to her right. So he sits in the seat to her left, his leathers creaking as he does.

"You're welcome, although it was Gallath's idea," Sierra says in response to those who thank her for the invitation. "But we've done it before, and it always proved to be fun."

"A cleric catfight?" Terra asks, chuckling at the thought. "I suppose it would be a battle of patience, as each combatant would just heal herself after each blow.

"You've just got to know how to deal with Gontorians," Sierra adds. "Not to say they are all the same, but some of them can be pretty single-minded."

Terra makes a gagging sound. "Like Kohen Assnose."

Sierra chokes a bit on her drink, then wipes her mouth with her sleeve. "Brassnose. Kohen Brassnose," she says. "She was the priest that our father hired to tutor us."

"Such a bitch," Terra hisses. "She had that horse whip she'd always smack our hands with when we did anything she perceived as wrong. Which was pretty much anything." She swirls her drink around in its glass. "'A lady doesn't sit like that, Miss Bullring. A lady doesn't speak out of turn, Miss Bullring. A lady doesn't use language like that, Miss Bullring.'" Terra shudders. "Hey, remember that time I replaced her canon with that book of erotic fiction?"

Sierra grins slightly. "I was surprised how long it took her to realize it was the wrong book. That was one hell of a sermon."

Naras Stonebreaker (Temple of Gonto)
"But it is relevant," argues Otaya. "I don't believe Gonto wants us to mindlessly follow the law without thought of why it was written or what spirit it was written in. We aren't mindless golems, obeying simple commands at our creator's behest. Besides, you promised you'd give that money to Agnas' estate. Isn't going back on your word also against Gonto's teachings?"

[Chris1234]

Naras Stonebreaker (Temple of Gonto)
"Otaya, Knowledge has basis in fact. This is fundamental in Gonto's teaching. You presume to argue from emotion without regard to fact. I tell you that in this, you err from Gonto's path. My guidance to you is that it is necessary to establish the facts of the matter, to whit, what the law actually is. Now, put your emotion to one side and walk this path with me. For the third time, I remind you of Agnas's written testament and spoken word." The dwarf gets out some chalk and a board, and writes:

Step one: By what law did Agnas's net worth not pass to our temple at the time of her death?
Step two: By what law is the use and disposal of temple funds, whether monies, items or property, after tithes to HQ of course, not up to the temple?
Step three: Is the posthumous awarding of funds to Agnas, without prior knowledge of her written or spoke word, legal?
Step four: Confirm that if posthumous awarding is illegal, then the value of the relevant funds should be divided between the remaining parties and nothing passes to Agnas or any beneficiaries she may have had.
Step five: Confirm that if posthumous awarding is legal, then their disposal, subject to taxes and tithes, must in law be according to Agnas's written and spoken word ad that in the case of multiple written and or spoken word than the most recent take precedence.
Step six: What taxes or tithes, if any, do you know were owed by Agnas?

The dwarf turns back to Agnas, "Now, please answer these directly, in discrete sequence, or else tell me for each step that it it beyond your ability or knowledge to be able to do so. And then we can continue in the the light of knowledge to find the path to justice within the boundaries of the law."

[HorizonsDream]

Jocelyn laughs lightly at the the story. "That kind of sounds like the Kohen here," she admits. "On top of demanding weird payment, she nearly accused us of having something to do with the previous Kohen's disappearance. She apologized afterwards, but still."

[spyguy1503]

Gallath smiles. Such interesting adventures. "Well, I once had this tutor, Aerister Natu. As a child, my friend Donju used a cantrip to make her lunch taste like dung, and her hair bright pink. She never did catch us." He trails off, lost in memory.

[JadedDM]

Jocelyn, Ouragana, Val, Baeros, Gallath, Drav (Bullring, captain's quarters)
"Did something happen to the old kohen?" Sierra asks Jocelyn. "We usually don't stop at this town, so we know nothing about what's going on here."

"Was your friend a mage?" Terra asks Gallath. "I've heard that sorcery is favored among the elves."

"Speaking of elves, is Drav joining us tonight?" asks Sierra. "The food will arrive soon."

Naras Stonebreaker (Temple of Gonto)
"You aren't even listening to what I'm saying!" Otaya objects, breaking into tears. "I am not arguing whether you are legally obligated to honor the memory of my friend! Of course you aren't, nobody is! That's not the point! Gonto is the goddess of law, yes. But she's also the goddess of community and family, as well. Is your heart made of stone? Just forget it, I might as well bang my head against the wall!" She rushes out, wiping at her eyes with the sleeves of her vestments and leaving Naras to sit with her thoughts, alone, in her office.

[chese780]

(OOC: I was actually waiting for someone to notice my absence. Thanks to Sierra for noticing me.)

Drav continues traveling around the town, looking for a place to clean up. After that, he's heading to the dinner.

(OOC: Clean up as in shower/bath and stuff.)

[Chris1234]

Naras thinks, ~Dear Gonto, you test me so. I do the best I can,~ and reflexively joins her hands in a circle.

She goes out looking for Leena.

[HorizonsDream]

"We were hired by the Kohen to explore an island that was believed to be full of pre-Eoian artifacts," Jocelyn explains. "When we got there though, the island was full of natives. They were violent rapists that were trying to kill us. Before the Kohen could really learn anything, we decided to leave because there were a few of us that objected to killing killing these violent rapists. Naturally, the Kohen didn't like that, so when we got back, he hired some more people to protect him and went back. It is safe to say that he is probably dead if he hasn't returned yet."

[Breila]

"But Jocelyn, didn't you notice that the kohen spoke of a woman that was her predecessor?" Ouragana objects. "They must have appointed someone else in the old man's absence who then disappeared."

[BishGada]

Baeros drinks quietly lost in thoughts.

[spyguy1503]

"Yes he was. I was trained to be a silent striker. Our culture looks down on thieving, especially from those who deserve their money. Why did they object to the slaying of the rapists?"

[JadedDM]

Jocelyn, Ouragana, Val, Baeros, Gallath, Drav (Bullring, captain's quarters)
Drav arrives, freshly clean from his bath and wearing new clothes. These include a red velvet open-collar shirt, tan wool trousers, a new belt and new shoes.

"Ah, there he is," Sierra comments as he enters.

"Nice new threads," Terra comments. "And to think, the loincloth was starting to grow on me," she teases.

Listening to Jocelyn and Ouragana speak, Sierra says, "So they've lost two kohens already? Sounds like the position is cursed."

The galley chef arrives at this point with a cart that contains their food. She places a plate before each person that contains dinner. It looks like tonight they are dining on snapper marinated in lime juice and salt and grilled with spicy pepper sauce.

Grilled Snapper.jpg (112.22 KiB) Viewed 6192 times

"Now this is way better than dried rations and gruel," Terra comments.

The meal is served with wine. However, there is whiskey, ale and dwarf spirits in the captain's liquor cabinet for those who'd prefer something else.

=========

(OOC: Drav spends 3 copper on a bath. He is now freshly clean.)

Naras Stonebreaker (Outside the temple of Gonto)
Naras steps outside and looks around, hoping Leena didn't go too far off. Luckily, she didn't. The dwarf finds her watching the labor crew work at building the new forge.