Salvation Outpost - Chapter 2

Armat took in Famul's words with rising surprise. This was their plan? This is what the Lord of Blades and his followers wanted?
"Create a warforged god? What foolishness... Are the Blades in such a rush to be slaves once more?"

Then 37 blurted out something on his behalf that the knight did not agree on.
"You may take Famul as your servant if you so desire, but I will not welcome a former servant of my enemy so easily in my company."
Armat had his prestige and position to consider. The outrage at home would be too large if it came out he would allow a warforged to serve him, rather than a squire or other worthy.

Hearing Armat's words, Peldan speaks up:

"If this being seeks someone to serve because it sees that as its function, I will gladly take on that responsibility. But what you see as this being having been a complicit servant of the titaness, I see as having been her slave. And a slave of an evil being such as the titaness deserves our sympathy, our empathy, and our respect."

Peldan smiles at Famul, allowing the automaton to shake his hand as much as he wants. In response to its words, Peldan, in a quiet somber voice, replies: "I don't believe we will be staying here in Salvation Outpost for very long. I'll understand if you wish to remain here. Perhaps I can help you find someone else from here willing to accept your offer of service?"

The halfling then looks up to see an elderly woman entering. He found it interesting that she, on the surface, was offering to assist them with any healing needs...yet her words following that offer seemingly belies the sincerity of her offer. To her he says:

"Thank you for your offer ma'am. I'm sure there are those among us who will take you up on your offer.

I can't help but notice that it sounds like your words are laced with cynicism and contempt. Is there anything we can do to ease that sentiment?"

37 will move over to inspect Farul, to determine if the dents are just part of his consctruction or signs of abuse.

As the warmth of the healing magic spreads through Vice, he speaks up "Thank you Miss, uh, Mother? Priestess? Vicar? Didn't catch your name. But we were trying to help. Except for a stray cannonballs I think we did pretty good." Somehow this woman caused Vice to come down from his high of defeating the titan. "Maybe the townspeople can put this building to good use now? "

Ser Armat met Mother Jahanah's steel gaze with his own commanding pose. He noticed her straight back and dismissive mien and recognized it well.
"You served during the Last War."
It was not a question. This woman had seen battle and healed the wounded many times by his guess. And she probably didn't serve on his side either. But it was likely best not to dwell on that.
"This is a frontier town. Trouble is a part of its way of life. And it draws people who aren't happy with a life of peace and quiet."
That statement clearly included both of them. The Red Knight let his shoulders sag a little, relaxing his pose.
"If you don't mind healing a Seeker, I will accept your aid."

"My thanks." Ser Armat said with some respect to the old healer. He then turned to Sheriff, and his tone became more dismissive..
"I have no need myself. I only met these others one town over. I intend to enter the Mournland. Having a safe haven to return to will suffice for me."

Kleber scratched his healed arm, eyeing the rather powerful-looking cleric with a wary gaze as he addressed her.

"Aye, ma'am. Me and a dwarf were handling the cannon. We weren't accustomed with aiming the piece, but there was only some repairable damage." Vice's comment about stray shots seemed to have some effect on Kleber, mostly because the ranger was dissatisfied with himself for wasting the few cannonballs they had.

"While our yet unnamed hunting party plans to stay in town for a time, I don't quite understand why you're offering us a small base to stay.Normally, people want to kick out the outsiders who trashed part of town during a fight."

Wounded SheK thanked powerful Mother Jahanah for her healing with a few short words, "May the Sovereign Host always be blessed." Now, she doesn't have to spend her energies healing herself up.

She was slightly unhappy that she left a mark. She chides herself that she had to do it. For sure now, this priest will remember she was here. She stays to quiet side as others talk. She does what she normally does and fades from thoughts. It is more a habit than anything else. She avoids leaving the mark in people's minds that she is or has been around.

She also can chide herself because she deliberately made sure captured patrolman 10 remembers her. She normally avoids having any attention directed her way. It was just petty revenge for that back strike that he did to her. She made sure that she twisted his arm hard before letting go of him. Something that he will feel for days later.

She sternly glares a bit at her shadow for what it did. She caught that as she always does when it isn't where is should be. She is well aware that it can do as it pleases at times. Something she inherited from her fey'ness. Unlike normal people, she knows her shadow is actually a living person. Like her in some ways, it avoids being noticed.

Funny it is the same as her hiding Dragonmark that avoids being seen too. Still, it always lets her know that there is another mark close. She can always track him because of that. 24/7.

She will make sure tonight there is no light in her room tonight to punish the shadow some. She knows that it likes to roam around when no one is around to see it. It can be so pesky sometimes.

She is eager to rest and trying out her new boots. She also needs to send word back to house about her recent activities. They will want to know what this group has currently done.

The Red Knight let the scavenger comment pass. It was likely aimed at his companions who indeed lacked wealth, and would similarly be enticed by the option of a new home. But not Ser Armat, who actually had a home of wealth to return to, even if he would find no comfort there. The others might wish to take up the offer, so he said no more on that. Instead, he chose to offer some advice.
"You could form a militia. The two of you have experience and can teach others. If a good number of the townspeople take up arms when someone threatens them that can be enough to scare off vagrants. Though I admit that few things can stop an actual military force which, in where it matters, the Blades are. For them I suggest you petition your rulers to station guards."
Ser Armat rubbed his chin on how to go about that.
"I can write a letter on your behalf for you to deliver. I am a foreigner, but still of the nobility. I know how to address such matters and my seal will at least give a sense of import to the recipient. If you so wish. Do you know which family is responsible for this outpost?"

"A base of operations her would be grand, but there's no use unless we have a way to protect or secure it. We'll definitely think about though, thanks Sheriff. I don't think we know what we are doing tomorrow." Vice says

Peldan sits patiently, waiting for Famul to respond to his previous inquiry.

He chose not to further engage in the bigger conversation as he didn't feel he had the right to comment, given he saw himself as tagging along on this 'adventure'.

"The little one may be too small for a deputy sheriff, but is there someone that can keep an eye on Famul? Help him help the town?" Vice ask while juggling a bit more for the little automaton