Round 12.return

As the sun rose across the realm the morning slowly warmed up. The sunlight highlighted things that might otherwise have been forgotten until the morning chill faded away and the last of the dew began to leave.

On the shore was parked a large boat alone on a series of docks, causing it to stick out a lot more than it would otherwise. A few birds could be seen on it pecking at any bugs that might have landed on its wood, but beyond that, there was no sign of life on or around the boat.

The first sign of anyone being awake was from a nearby building as a gnoll left a nearby building that had never really been the focus of anything.

“This has been nice,” she said to herself, “I never really expected to get a break. It’s too bad it was delayed so we could get back to shore to rest and it’s annoying that most of the background characters were gone since they weren’t needed but…”

“Wait…” she said aloud with some hesitancy, “I’m… monologuing to myself? Why would I be doing… Oh, fuck.”

Turning around she looked at some of the buildings and started to knock on them one by one. When asked what this was about she told them to just wait and to go near where the boat was docked and she would explain once she got everyone.

Eventually, everyone who had been in the different buildings, mostly one per building unless they were doing some activities that would likely at most be mentioned or alluded to in some writers’ products, ended up where Kralliyen had told them to go.

The only exception was one of the many people who helped run the boat that she didn’t even know the name of that she had to throw over her shoulder to bring to the meeting.

“So,” the gnoll muttered as she dropped the last person in with the group, “I’m sure you’re all curious why I demanded we all get to talking this morning.”

“It did cross my mind,” Ciak’ra said while taking a bite of some bread, “I hadn’t even had breakfast yet and it’s not like we get vacations often.”

“From what Victor said this is the first one.”

The comment from within the crowd was confirmed, “Well yes and no. I have had weeks that were basically off and surprise weeks off because of things, but this is the first true vacation that we could just rest long term. You all think you’ve had it rough? Try being the main character. It’s a pain.”

“At least you’re allowed to actually speak to everyone, “Alinar said, “Having to pretend not to speak the same language as everyone else is annoying even if we’re finally being allowed to learn it.”

“Just as we’re going to a place where your language is the main language,” one of the sailors countered, “I suspect that will mean it’s sort of a flip on what’s useful and not for conversation.”

“We’re getting off topic,” Kralliyen growled, drawing attention to herself.

“What is the topic?”

“I was starting to monologue.”

The group fell silent for a bit until a few of the people began to ask why that was a big deal.

“The reason it’s a big deal,” Kralliyen started, “Is that it basically means that the writer is actually focusing on us. If sunflower is focusing on us it means that we are probably going to be working again soon and we are so far away from where we were. If we are the first characters written about after the hiatus is over we’re screwed because we’re here.”

“Maybe that’s not going to happen.”

“Can we really afford to think like that?” Ciak’ra said standing up with the last crumbs of his food on his face, “Think about it.”

There was a general murmur before he continued, “We are just characters and the only reason this was a vacation instead of a sort of death was because Sunflower was planning to come back and I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to give her a reason to discard us.”

A few people started to argue that Sunflower was a guy, but was shut up quickly because it wasn’t important.

“Do you realize how many web comics, web novels, fan fictions, and who knows what else is created only for the story to never actually finish? The only reason we didn’t just stop and our universe didn’t just freeze never to continue is because she was planning to keep us going. The moment our creator decides we’re not worth continuing our lives are basically over.”

“What about fan fiction?” one of the audience asked, “Isn’t that a way our lives would keep going?”

“Maybe, but probably not.”

After a slight bit of uncertainty lingered, Kralliyen spoke up, “We are us because of our writer. A fan fiction version of us would be what a new writer thinks of us without knowing the shadows of our life that only Sunflower knows about us. Plus all of you random short term people who are only around for us important characters to use to move between plot points would likely not be included. Sure maybe some would be used like say that merchant who hates spears because he was found funny, but most of you will not even be there.”

“On top of that do you really think we are well known and established enough to get fan fiction about us?”

That last comment got even some of the Progonvans to quiet down.

“So what are we going to do?”

“We are going to gather up our stuff, food first as the boat stuff is mostly still in place. We are going to sail as fast and far as possible to try to get where we were.”

“But what if we can’t get there?”

Victor this time stood up, “I’m the main character of this story so I think I know our writer better than anyone else here. I don’t think we’re going to get to Progonva right away. The sea also looks mostly the same so as long as we aren’t expected to be at the island in the first chapter back we should be good. As far as us going there since we weren’t there I don’t think we will be expected to be there and even if we are we will just barely see it at the end of the chapter.”

“But what if it’s not there when we are supposed to see it?”

“We fake it,” Ciak’ra exclaimed, “We’re a word only format and if we say we see it even if it’s not described that should be enough and will buy us until the next chapter for us to sail in order to get there so everyone pack up, we need to go.”

There was a general slightly unsure murmur from the group that ended when Kralliyen let out a roar scattering the crowd to go to the different houses and gather what they needed. The only ones still around were the three who took charge of the situation and a couple of the locals who stuck around just in case, hoping they might be given names if Sunflower needed a chapter about the town between the main story plots.

“Thanks for being here and getting us food and stuff,” Victor said, shaking one of their hands, “It made things a lot easier.”

“No worries. If you get the chance to come back here maybe come see us. I’d love to get a name.”

Victor smiled and assured him he would do his best before going to help fill up the boat, not happy about going back to work but glad that he wasn’t forgotten about by the author. After so long he didn’t want to admit that he was a little worried the vacation might end not because he was returning but because the author had tired of him.

He just wondered how much longer he had until the proper story ended and if things would end when the story did or if he would be allowed to live a life beyond the end as long as it truly ended.

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round 12.2

Even as the rest of the group started to wake up and question what was going on, how they had traveled so far, and various other questions, Victor was mostly ignoring them except to play the part of translator at times when Gralyin’della wasn’t fluent enough for the task. It was obvious that being drugged would cause someone to wake up with a lot of questions, but that didn’t mean that Victor didn’t have questions just because he was the first one to wake up.

“It’s a distinct possibility,” Victor thought to himself repeatedly, “A chance to go home is a distinct possibility? Not for sure, but a possibility. Sure, that’s better than anything I’ve found so far, but it could also easily be a lie to try to manipulate me, but what if it’s not?”

Time passed and eventually, Kralliyen picked him up and pulled him to the rest of the group.

“Food.”

As he didn’t respond she shook in order to get his attention.

“Hey what are you…”

“I said food. That short beast dwarf woman cooked for everyone and she’s putting it in bowls so it’s time to eat then we will get into the place with the boats.”

Victor snapped back to the current place and time and looked around. He could see the water starting to form on the horizon and smell the food that was being made and eventually walked over there to get his own portion of the meal.

“Were you plotting how to sell us off or something all on your own?”

Looking at the elven half orc, Victor rolled his eyes, “I hate slavery and have freed almost every slave I have gotten so far.”

“But you still got slaves,” Ciak’ra smirked, “Doesn’t seem like you hate them that much.”

Seeing him pointing at Kralliyen, Victor glared a bit, “She is an odd case and most of the ones I got were like that. I bought my first ones because if they got to where the delivery site was they were going to be worked to death in some mines and the only reason I didn’t free them then was I couldn’t afford to so I had them work until they earned enough to be freed and…”

“A likely story. I bet they are still working for you out of sight now. Maybe keeping a spare house clean under threats of some sort.”

“No, I freed every slave I ever got except one,” Victor said struggling to not raise his voice glad that only the Progonva people could understand them, “And not that it’s any of your business, but some people are a struggle to free. Some are glad for it and I wish they all were, but the only reason I have my current slave is because of her culture and it seems like if I do free her she might game over herself.”

“Game… over herself?”

Pinching his nose, Victor sighed. The term was something that he had picked up from someone who attempted suicide before and could talk about it but not use the phrase.

“Simply put, if I free her, which I did offer, she basically said it proves she is a worthless being and worthless beings don’t deserve to live. She lost some conflict and was enslaved and the one who did so found her not worth keeping and now I own her and it seems she will…. you know what? Why am I even explaining this to you? Fuck off.”

Kralliyen moved to sit next to Victor as he ate, “You seem to have a bit of aggression in you right now. Do I need to kill the mixed breed that was talking to you?”

“No killing,” Victor said glad that the gnoll couldn’t understand what he had said to the Progonva man, “I just had a bit of an argument on if you were good enough to keep as a slave. He thought I should free you but I said I’d keep you.”

While he wasn’t a liar by default, Victor felt too lazy to think up what to say that was truthful without being a pain to explain, “Something about how he thinks you’d be more useful if you weren’t forced to this or that.”

Finishing her meal, Kralliyen put an arm around Victor and pulled him close to her, “You know me much better than the ones who can’t even speak to me. I will protect you until you can defeat me in combat and then you will be a great father to those who come next.”

Not feeling up to arguing about it with her, Victor chose to ignore the statement even as Veyonj and Vohdiit both couldn’t help but show interest in the statement.

The rest of their travels didn’t take long and eventually, they found themselves in the port town of Olthiiruhm.

Since it was already dusk, the group looked for a place to sleep for the night and found a building that many sailors would sleep in that offered beds in a communal setting that people could rent to sleep in one night at a time. There was no privacy as the beds were all in one room with each other, but it was enough for what they needed.

In the morning they all bought breakfast from the tavern that was part of the same building and when their group sat down at a table with some sailors the conversation suddenly stopped and a few of them moved to another table leaving them with just a dwarf and someone who looked human except with a pair of tusks protruding from his mouth.

“Was it something we said?”

“Something he said?” the dwarf scoffs, “They haven’t said anything yet and don’t realize…”

“Ah sorry if I didn’t realize,” Victor said during what seemed like a lull in the words, “I’m not from a port town so I’m not sure if I was rude.”

The dwarfs’ eyes went large and he grabbed his meal and moved to another table quickly talking to the people at it in a hushed breath.

“What was that about?”

The tusked man was no help as Victor looked at everyone else.

“You’re speaking dwarven,” Veyonj asserted, “I can’t understand you.”

The realization of what had just happened made it make sense. If you don’t expect someone to understand you and they respond perfectly in your native tongue it would throw many people for a loop.

Not thinking more about it, the group finished breakfast and all went to the docks together where Vohdiit took the lead and approached one of the dock workers.

“Morning to you. I won’t waste your time with random talk. Are you the head of the docks here and if you aren’t can you let me know which one is?”

A little bit of talk and then moving to a new location led to a reptilian beastkin man sitting in a small building that was barely more than walls, a roof, and windows on all the sides that could look at the docks.

Almost bouncing around on his feet when he saw the beastkin, Vohdiit quickly started to talk at a pace that could barely be understood by those around him.

“Great to meet you. I’m told that you’re in charge here and if that’s true I have a couple of things to ask.”

“That’s fine.”

“Great so see me and my group want some boats and some people to work on a boat. Do you know of any boats for sale and people willing to work on one? I got money so that’s not a concern… although it will be easier if they are willing to barter some things so I don’t have to liquidate some of the stuff directly.”

“There are plenty of workers not on the job who are willing to work, but not a lot of boats that are for sale. I suppose if you offer enough money any boat could be for sale, but that’s not likely in some cases since it would be paying lots more than it’s worth.”

“Great, great, great, so can you let me know which ones you know are for sale first? After that, I can figure out how many people I need to hire for the job. I’m a cartographer and I want to do some new maps of a miniature island that one of my friends claims to have found.”

“Miniature?”

“Very miniature,” Vohdiit said with a nod, “It’s actually several islands but most of them are smaller than the boats I see out on the docks. Not worth much, but if they can be added to some maps it might prevent crashing on them.”

Writing down some dock numbers on a piece of paper the beastkin handed it to Vohdiit and rushed him away, “Find the ones for sale at these docks now unless it’s important don’t bother me. I need to check all the incoming and outgoing ships scheduled for today.”

“I appreciate it very much, good sir.”

After getting the paper, Vohdiit told the rest of them to wait and he would buy the boats and they would look for sailors tomorrow.

Letting the man leave, Kralliyens ears twitched a bit just as he got out of sight

“There is something very odd about that man.”

“That is true,” Veyonj said, “Probably because he’s not alive.”

Lowering his voice Victor chuckled, “He’s obviously alive. Or are you saying he’s a zombie?”

“Oh nothing like that,” Veyonj assured him, “He’s just not a person. He isn’t alive. He’s never been alive. He doesn’t even have blood in him.”

“How would you know he doesn’t…” Victor paused a second and looked at Veyonjs teeth, “Stupid question. But if he’s not…. what is he?”

“Oh no clue, but he isn’t alive and if he was dead I’d be able to tell that too.”

“No I mean undead,” Victor reiterated, “The dead puppeted back to life.”

“If that was the case there would be other signs,” Kralliyen growled, “I have killed some of those before and they are always off. I was only saying what I said since his voice has changed a few times since we met.”

“I haven’t noticed any change in his voice,” Veyonj said as the Progonva group seemed to have lingering uncertainty about the situation, “Or are you saying that he messed with our sense of hearing?”

“No or I wouldn’t have noticed,” Kralliyen stated, “His voice changes. The one right now is from a woman, probably of elven descent while the one when we first met was a younger beastkin, and the one that helped us find beds last night was probably an older man. You can also tell a difference in what phrases he uses and how he acts.”

“I did find how he talked to that dock guy different,” Victor admitted, “I just assumed he was someone that could adjust how he acts based on who he was with. Like a charlatan or an actor.”

The group went quiet as they all ended up thinking about different things.

Victor eventually explained what was going on, while leaving out the worries about their guest for the time being, to the group from Progonva.

Eventually, Vohdiit did return with some papers in his hand that he said indicated the transfer of ownership of two boats had been completed.

“So what now? We get a bunch of sailors and go off to Progonva?”

“Ultimately yes,” Vohdiit said back to Victor, “But for now we are going to do some shopping. Getting supplies that will be sent to the boat. Food, water, tools, and anything else that could be needed on the trip. We will look for a crew tomorrow.”

Putting a hand on Victor’s shoulder, Vohdiit pulled him close and spoke softly, “Also you and I need to go to the docks after the sun sets.”

Victor swallowed and nodded his head without responding as he thought that he would make sure that Kralliyen, and maybe someone else, would be nearby just in case.

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Ante 11.7

Having gone through so much talking, some parts more argumentative than other parts, the conversation finally got to the part that had somehow been overlooked. The conversation that Victor was expecting to appear at any moment as it had become the proverbial elephant in the room.

Acting as translator Victor allowed the mixed race people at the table to start asking questions of Sampa at a pace that was impossible before. Because of this the conversation flowed with only slight pauses between the speakers.

“What is it that you,” Gralyin’della said with a slight growl, “No for what reason are my people here considering this is your war? Do you really expect me and my friends to put our lives on the line for something that doesn’t matter to us?”

“Right now I have no expectations of you,” Sampa announced, “You and your kin were not part of plans until the guard placed you all at my doorstep.”

“So we are prisoners?” she asked, putting her hands into fists, “You just want to lock us away so we won’t expose you?”

“Oh nothing of the sort. In the time that I have gotten to know you and learn about you as people who exist instead of theoretical people on an island I have some ideas of what we can do to help one another.”

“You want to help us?” the man with orc and elven lineage muttered, “Let me guess so you can exploit us?”

“Ciak’ra I will hand this,” Gralyin’della muttered to him, “After all I’ve known him the longest.”

“Oh no need for you to keep him from talking,” Sampa interjected with a wide smile, “In a sense he is right.”

A moment of stunned silence passed before Sampa continued, “I can see you aren’t as familiar with what I am talking about. See there is one thing I am always looking to obtain. This is for myself personally in my home, in the businesses that I take ownership of, and the country as a whole.”

“People capital.”

“Do you mean human cap…” Victor started before he realized why there would be a difference in this world, “Oh right never mind.”

He then continued to translate without interjecting and didn’t tell the Progonva Island people what he had said.

“You see, people’s capital is the knowledge, skill, and experience that a group or a single person possesses. This can be a great benefit to any organization regardless of if it is a family or a country.”

“I would like to get the mixed race people off of Progonva Island,” Sampa started to explain, “Because even if there is nothing combative needed I am sure they have a great many talents. Plus I am sure they wouldn’t mind living in the rest of the world. Of course, if they wish to stay on the island that would be their prerogative. I would not force it on any of them, but with everything going on power, skill, and surprise are all essential.”

“But how can we trust you?,” the human with elven blood in him quipped, “You could say one thing and do another. This talk has already told us that you are willing to.”

“Fair,” Sampa said and looked at the person who spoke up, “Truth be told you have no reason to fully trust me. I don’t hide the fact that I am willing to do things that others would find to be reprobate in execution. That said, I tend to only do that to people who give me a specific reason to do it. This tends to be in the form of attempted harm to me or anyone who I consider part of my literal or figurative family or is a threat to the same even if they aren’t aware of it.”

Sliding a knife across the table to the young man, Sampa smirks a little bit, “Feel free to be the representative of your people right now and use that knife to decide if you are something I should consider a threat Mr. Grotika’madiel.”

Picking up the knife the half elfs eyes went wide as he heard his name, not remembering providing it as he looked at the rest of his group.

“Ah do not worry. Information is easy to come by in the right situations. I believe this information was obtained under duress by someone who was acquainted with a Mr Quith.”

Regardless of if it was a bluff or the truth, Grotika’madiel felt his blood run cold as he looked at the knife in his hand.

“Now,” Sampa said to get the young man to focus again, “Approach me and decide what relationship you wish for your people to have with me.”

Gralyin’della tried to interject, but the woman with both dwarven and beastkin heritage told her to wait.

“But Alinar, this is a very important situation. What if something happens?”

“I know you like to take charge,” Alinar said as she flexed her arms just a touch, “But let him do as he needs to. He was the one to speak up after all.”

Looking at the knife in his hand he approached Sampa but took as long with a single step as it might take for the whole trip if he was going at a proper pace.

By the time he approached Sampa, he slammed the knife on the table, revealing a hint of blood on the blade that was mirrored by a red line going down his palm.

“If you are going to betray anyone… betray me.”

The young man’s legs were visibly shaking as he spoke, “But if you… If you betray the rest I’m willing to hurt myself to make sure you’re paid back.”

As Victor translated what was said he quickly returned to his chair in less time than it took him to take a single step on the initial journey.

Picking up the knife, Sampa handed it to Skerlet who started to clean off the blade.

“While I will say it is good you didn’t try to attack me, mostly because you would be dead if you had tried, it also wasn’t an act of pure submission either.”

Sampa stares at the half elf until the young man looks away, “That was a good choice. You don’t make your people into an enemy, but you also don’t show that you’re people deserve to be property. I would have done that if it was the right choice of course, but I’ll move on the path I think is best based on the answer you gave me.”

Another moment passed without anyone speaking up until eventually, Alinar cleared her through to garner the attention of everyone there, “How do you plan to… I mean you said you want to get our people off that forsaken island.”

The orcish man started to argue with her but got no response until he was finished talking.

“You know it’s true. It is the island of those who were forsaken! It is home to criminals with no further place to go and people like us who were abandoned there because of how we were born. I want to be able to live without fear of those on the other part of the island. I want to be able to make something of my life beyond what we have been. I want that for the people I care about and it’s why I dared to try to leave the island.”

Standing up to the orcish man and pushing her chair aside she stared at him, “I would do it again if I had the chance even if I knew everything that happened would happen. Do you want to know why?”

She barely waited for enough time to breathe before continuing, “Because I wanted to live in a place where I could live knowing it was by my own choice and not the choice of someone who didn’t think I was worth anything.”

Alinars voice got louder as tears started to flow down her cheeks, “Why didn’t my family protect me? Why did our home think of us as trash that they would banish? I suppose they only didn’t kill us because of some stupid reason.”

“Maybe they didn’t think we were even worth burying in their ground or they were scared our killers would save us. I don’t know and I don’t care.”

Pointing at Sampa, his staff, and Victor she continued, “But these people want us here. They want our people here and…”

The tears flowed stronger than before as her words slowed and softened, “I’ve never felt like anyone would want me. I’ve felt useful but never wanted. Even back home it was just because I was so strong and able to help do the labor. If someone else could have done that then I’m sure they wouldn’t have cared about me at all.”

Victor couldn’t help it and at this point was hugging the shorter woman from behind, “Hey it’s alright. They say the best revenge is living well. It’s proving the people who looked down on you wrong and I’m sure that you will do just that.”

When she hugs him back Victor can’t help but let out a small stifled scream and he pats her on the shoulder until she realizes what’s going on and let go of him.

“I’m sorry,” she said wiping tears from her eyes, “I just needed…”

With a wince, Victor rubs part of his side, “It’s fine. You just forgot your strength. Just… I’m pretty weak is all.”

Wiping her eyes a bit more the woman looks at him, “I wouldn’t say you’re weak.”

Without asking for permission or any hint of restraint she lifted up Victor’s shirt and started to feel his chest and stomach.

“Hey what are you doing?”

“See you’re certainly not strong but you’re not weak. Your body seems to be in an enhancement stage. I can see hints of sloth lingering but it’s leaving you. If I was to say someone is weak I would expect to see bones, fat, and not a hint of muscle. I can’t see your bones and I see some muscle. There is some fat but depending on how the muscle is done that’s good to have some, so long as it’s not all you have of course.”

Using his shirt to wipe away the rest of her tears, Alinar smiled up at him, “You must be active to end up like this.”

“I haven’t exactly been active. Mostly a lot of walking.”

The pair started to talk about Victor’s activities and how much walking, pack carrying, training, and the like could be seen as worth being called strong when Sampa tapped on his cup to draw attention back to him.

“I am unsure what you two are talking about, but I am sure it is off topic. As there was physical activity and then actions of the young lady I am assuming it was a courting ritual from her island but if you would delay doing that sort of activity until after we are done it would be greatly appreciated.”

Victor chose not to tell them what was said as he apologized and explained that there was a slight argument between them.

“Yes, but feeling you up and holding each other tight is something you should continue after the meeting. I would just say try to hide it from Ruuz. While many people of high status make use of their staff or others to help suppress their carnal desires she is technically your fiance and while I only did that for paperwork reasons as a sort of potential trap for a variety of people she is likely to need time to be convinced. Especially considering how long she was cuddling your unconscious body during the trip here while you were getting your new card.”

“She did what?”

“We can leave that for another time. Please get back to translating.”

“Fine… but I wanna talk about this later.”

“Of course.”

The next part of the conversation focused on Sampa’s plan to get some ships that aren’t attributed to any country to go to the island and offer them a ride here. His plan was to have some of them go on the ship as a way to verify this is true when they land on the island.

Sampa said if they wish to stay on the island all four could do so, but he would offer a ride to anyone who wishes to come to the country and start a life here so long as they are willing to help the kingdom against their enemy.

“And once everything is done I will ensure that they are all provided citizenship and that I will use some leverage on the delivery personnel to bring them here instead of the island so they need not have such hardships.”

“How are you going to promise those sorts of things?” the half elf asked in a huff, “If I remember right you said something about how the king is in hiding and you didn’t say that you’re a prince or anything so how can you promise this.”

Sampas’ lip curved into a smile that seemed to barely be physically possible. A smile that almost seemed to be a threat in its own right.

“Do you question my capabilities? There is a saying about how war is the best time to gain power. Those with the mind for it can gain land, money, slaves, and even literal power if they so desire. This is both directly and indirectly. I’ve already done the latter and if our enemy is doing as I expect I will be able to get the former as well.”

“I will easily be able to keep this promise if your people help us out and we win. If you don’t or we fail you could just become nomadic in nature and avoid the lands that found you to be worthless.”

Grotika’madiel tried to speak up but Sampa clapped his hands, “I think we are done for today. I have much to do and I have people capital within arms reach to use so it will be quite troublesome if I am not allowed to get working on it as soon as possible.”

“One last thing,” Gralyin’della said loudly, “There’s one thing I want to say about going on the boat ride home.”

“And what might that be?”

“I’d like to request Victor to come with us.”

Victor needed a moment to translate that.

“Why do you wish for Victor?”

“It doesn’t have to be him,” she explained, “I just thought you were more likely to let us take him as a hostage to guarantee our safety than you were Ruuz.”

Sampa couldn’t help but smile a bit, “I’ll consider your request. Now do as you like while I get to work. These next few days could spell success or failure.”

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