Greyhawk Game Blog

Dissention in the Ranks [26 Apr 1211]

Filed under Tar's Company Storyline » 11 Taking the Amulet Trail by Steve | | Bottom

While Tar, Morven, and Drathon are interviewing Rakim, Dreune tells Nyra that he’d like to talk about her initiative. She raises an eyebrow and continues dressing one of the rabbits that will be used for dinner. He mentions that she has some great ideas and is the best skilled out of the mages that he has charge of. He requests that intead of doing things that she tells him before hand. It’s not meant to control her but to keep her from having to explain herself infront of Tar. She finishes what she’s doing quietly and then stands up and looks at him squarely in the eye.

I have no need, nor have I ever had a need, to explain myself to Tar.

Dreune:

Than you have no problem with my request. This is most excellent. I appreciate that Nyra.

She nods and takes the rabbit to Meluvia. As she does, she turns and looks at him, pointing her knife at the intentines and fur of the rabbit lying on the ground,

Sometimes the rabbit gets away. Sometimes it’s innards lie on the ground to be trampled by other’s feet and return to the soil to give the Forest life. It all depends on which side of the forest it runs.

She then turns back to Meluvia and hands her the rabbit.

Dreune:

Wow. Tell ya what. Why don’t you just suggest things to me instead of doing them first. If you decide otherwise to you’ll be seeing Tar for a reason of my choosing. You see I’m trying to be sensative to the fact that you’ve been here before me, yet I’m senior. That’s just unfiar to you.

She heads back to the other rabbit on the ground and sticks her knife into it.

You do what you have to do. I will do what I have to do. But, understand this—you are not my senior in anything but age.

Dreune:

It’s interesting that you should mention how much I understand. I admit that I understand very little about the correct thing to do in battle or the best way to use my magic against anoter person. I understand very little about you and I’d like to know more. What I do understnad the chain of command, as Drathon would have me learn it. You fall in that chain just as I do. I need you to come to me with anything that you do before you do them. I also need to know, daily, how Korkyn is doing and what you are teaching him. I also might add that you and I will spend a lot of time together the more you resist me.

Nyra stands up, beet red in the face and Dreune can see a fury like none other he has ever seen in his life. Her knife has been brought up toward his face and her jaw clenched tight in a fist. She stops the knife about three inches from his eye. Her voice is low and threatening:

Let’s get this straight. You and you’re wishes are unimportant to me. If you wish to spend more time with me, you will do so quiet and out of my eyesight. I will train Korkyn as I see fit and I will not be giving you or any other person reports on his progress! It is not any of you’re or anyone else’s damn business how his religious training is going (her voice is rising and people are noticing) and if he chooses to tell someone he may. You will never…I repeat never…know from me what he is seeing and experiencing. You keep playing you’re petty mind tricks with nature and trying to bend it to your gods-be-damned ways. One day you will see the error of her ways and you will be paying dearly for it. Until then I will tolerate you’re presence…if you are lucky. (she lowers the knife). Now, if you value what the gods gave you, you will stand aside from me!

Dreune:

(just to piss her off) You are very sexy when you are angry. We’ll talk about this when you can learn to be more professional

Dreune then makes a very, very dangerous mistake. He turns his back to Nyra and starts to walk away. Shehas had enough and lashes out with her knife in full fury. However, the blade is stayed…partially, by Firena’s command.

Firena:

Nyra! Dreune! That’s enough. Come here.

Dreune does so immediately and can not see Nyra striking out with her knife. Nyra’s blade slices through the back of Dreune’s cape as she brings it back to her side, seething with fury. She struggles obviously to control herself and marches over.

Firena [lowering her voice and addressing both of them]:

Do I need to know what this is about?

Dreune stands…very unsure what to do but very sure he wants to do something.
After a moment he then says “she owes me a new cape”.

Nyra:

I beleive this is about Dreune sticking his nose into religious affairs that are none of his damn business…and of him being an insult to the human race and of nature.

The rest of the Company has stopped what they are doing and are watching. Marky seems to be collecting coins from the others. Shasivin and Cust are in the front, the four new members int he back craning to see until William pushes them up front; parting the older Company members and mumbling something like, “Wow, this is going to be good!”

Druene struggles to keep his resolve and then says (to Firena):

I simply want to know what she wants to do before she does it. I also would like to know the status of the other mages in my charge. For that I was assulted”

Nyra:

I am not a damned mage.

Firena [continuing to keep her voice low]:

Stow it! Both of you! Now listen up. Right. ... Now let’s get one thing very clear. I don’t need you to respect each other. I don’t even need you to like each other. But hear this and hear it well – we have a full score of people out her and we are about to enter what many consider to be the most dangerous place in all of the Flaeness. If we are going to stand even a small chance of survival, we need to work as a team. You find a way to work this out between you. I do not need two loose cannons upsetting what little peace we are capable of garnering out here. Do I make myself clear?

Dreune:

Firena…we just tried to work it out. Is there something that I don’t understand?

Firena:

Nyra, wait.

Nyra:

Yes, you don’t understand anything about anything that is important. You a child, as are ost men, in a man’s body playing at things you don’t understand for purposes that are not important and poorly understood. Leave me to the correct ways and all will be well. You curse you’re sould as you will.

She then stops as Firena says tells her to wait. Dreune also really wants to say something, but stops because Firena is about to speak.

Firena:

I’ll say it again—we’re a team. We need to work as a team. When we make plans, they frequently involve many moving parts. I think all Dreune is saying is that he needs to know that nothing you do, no matter how expertly achieved, will negatively affect our other plans. We need to work together. No [heavy emphasis] exceptions.

Nyra:

He also needs to understand that …

Firena:

And Nyra…You also need to understand that we ARE doing something important out here. We’ve already encountered the god Tharizdun whose priests are trying to free him. You’ve heard the name. You know the lore. What do you suppose would happen to your Grove, all Groves, if he gets loose? How long would the Spirits of the Groves stand against the Eater of All?

Nyra looks away from Nyra, then she looks back, but Firena can see the defiance has melted…somewhat:

No, not long. My grove is my primary responsability. The world may be yours. We each have our own domains. I am helping you as you have helped me. You know better than to think that I would be circumventing our plans.

Dreune is still fumming, but stil barely holding his own tongue.

Firena:

I know that. But you need to be aware that you can circumvent them by doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. Tar set up this hierarchy in order to prevent all of us from inadvertently undoing what we’re working for. We also need to know what tools we have at our disposal. Religious education is not something you need to let us know about with Korkyn. But we need to know what he can do. How he can benefit our goals. We need to be aware of his skills and how he’s developing. Does that make sense to you?

Nyra:

Just keep this over-haired ape out of my business. I certainly know how to train someone up and you shall always know of the benfits that he and I can provide to this troop. I have always, and I will continue to be up front with that. I simply do not need a nursemaid to hold my hand like a little girl.

Dreune:

I wouldn’t hold your hand to save you from death

Firena:

Nyra, Tar wants you to work through Dreune. ... Dreune!

Dreune:

Sorry

Nyra:

Then I will tell him what Korkyn can offer when he can offer it.

Firena:

I’ll repeat it for the hard of hearing … we’re a team. We work together. Our lives frequently depend on each other. Always. I do not care whether you like each other. I’m NOT asking you to become best friends. But I do care whether we can all rely on one another. keep that in mind. Do I make myself clear, Dreune?

Dreune:

Perfectly.

Nyra:

Are we done?

Firena:

No.

Her shoulders shag.

Firena:

I need both of you to make sure this conversation sticks and is perfectly clear. I do not want to feel that I need to repeat myself over and over. Tell me this now, both of you. And consider it an oath. Can you work together?

Nyra: (after careful consideration)

Together…yes.

Dreune:

I believe we can…

Firena:

Not good enough. I don’t want to know what you believe. I want to know if you can work together. Can you?

Dreune:

My apologies. You have made every effort to be crystal clear with me. I apologise for not being so with you. Nyra and I will accomplish great things as your magical team.

Firena:

Excellent. Though keep in mind that there are others on that team as well. ... We’re done here. Nyra, I believe you were cleaning some rabbits. Dreune, let’s take a walk.

Dreune follows Firena, while Nyra turns and heads back to the rabbits, slowly cleaning her knife.

Firena:

Dreune, I know what you’re trying to do, and I appreciate it. You must however, know that Nyra requires special handling. I’ve never seen her as volitile as when someone has tried to pull rank. She has a VERY harsh aversion to being under someone’s control. You’ll have to find a way to work with her that leaves you in charge, but her believing she’s an equal. I don’t know how you’ll achieve that, but that is the goal you must set for yourself.

Dreune: (calming down slowly)

It’s very difficult to talk to her. Everything that I said pissed her off. All I did was try to protect her from making a mistake and having to hear about it or have someone die from it. In the Temple of Iuz Morven took the initative and it came back to bite her. Next time it could be worse. I should bear that responsibility not her

Firena:

I understand. I didn’t say it would be easy. But don’t force it. Talk to Yalinari. ... I know, I know. Not advice I routinely give anyone, but in this case, I think it’s valid. ... He is the only man, besides Tar of course, who I have seen spend any length of time at all with Nyra and come away with his pride and his good humor intact. He might have some advice for you.

Dreune:

Ya know…I wanted more mages (remebering Nyra’s reaction)...I mean people who can do magic and now I have them. I have a much deeper respect for what you and Drathon do everyday. Getting back to the point, I will seek out advice from the fornicator. I thank you for the time and words of wisdom that you have given me. They shall not be wasted.

Firena almost smiles at the reference to “the fornicator”, but typically, refrains:

Good. In that case, we’re done here.

Before she returns to what she was doing before, Firena stops by to see Shasivin, while Dreune heads toward Yalinari.

Firena:

I hope I won you enough money to buy Dreune a new cloak. He’s in need of a new one.

Shasivin:

Aye, I have, but do I really have to? ‘E looks good tha’ way.

Firena [ignoring his last comment]:

No, of course you don’t. Pull it from Company funds.

Shasivin:

It’s sorta loike, well loike a badge of ‘onor. He tangle’ with Nyra and lived to tell of it!

He and Cust break out in laughter.

Firena [to both Cust and Shasivin]:

And who wants to be the next to say they tangled with Firena and lived to tell about it?

Cust:

We can get a special badge made.

Shasivin:

Oh ….

Cust:

Never mind….

Cust wanders away and Firena smiles inwardly to herself and returns to her own duties.

Dreune approaches Yalinari and says:
Hey Yalinari…got a moment…actually, do you have a lot of em?

Yalinari:

Always. Yyyyou ddddon’t hhhhappen tttto hhhhave a bbbbottle of wwwwine tttto wwwwork ththththrough, ddddo yyyou?

Dreune:

I brought two. We’ll need them.

Yalinari:

Ththththen I’m all ears!

Dreune:

(getting more upset as he talks) How on earth to you get through to Nyra? I approached it as nicely as I could but nothing got through. She was pissed off at everything I said. I mean, I’ve never met such an ice maden in all my life! Her personallity is even ugly in astral place. Was it wrong of me to say that I need to know what is going on? How else could I have put it? I did what Drathon said I should do…How do I talk to that…woman!

Dreune:

She really is much prietter when she is mad though (much more calm).

Yalinari:

Ah, wwwwoman ttttrouble. Mmmmy ffffriend, yyyyou ccccame tttto ththththe rrrright pppperson. Ggggrab a sssseat and ppppour ththththe wwwwine.

Dreune:

There’s no need to pour. (he hands him a bottle)

Yalinari:

I ddddefinitely llllike ththththe wwwway yyyyou ththththink.

He then launches into a long story, very well told, but (to Dreune’s mind) completely missing the point.

Dreune:

Yes but…how do you talk to her? Have you ever seen her smile or laugh? Should I tell her a joke every morning?

Yalinari:

Mmmmy ffffriend, yyyyou’ve ggggot NNNNyra all wrrrrong. Shshshshe is ththththe mmmmost ddddifficult of all wwwwomen tttto bbbbed. Ffffiercely independent, and knnnnows hhhher own mmmmind. Bbbbet shshshshe’s a ttttiger bbbbetween ththththe shshshsheets ththththough.

Dreune:

(understanding why Firena said not to go to him) ...yes but how do I talk to her?

Yalinari:

Hhhhave yyyyou cccconsidered asking hhhher about hhhherself? Hhhhave yyyyou shshshshowed any interest in hhhher bbbbackground? ... Nnnno, nnnnot ththththat bbbbackground, I mmmmean hhhher ppppast? Whwhwhwhere shshshshe’s ffffrom? Whwhwhwhat llllife wwwwas llllike bbbbefore shshshshe wwwwent tttto GGGGreyhawk? ... Or ddddid yyyyou jjjjust ttttry tttto ttttake chchchcharge and ddddictate tttterms?

Dreune:

I didn’t…but…I thought…no I didn’t. Do you suppose I’ve slipped beyond recovery or is there still hope for this old man? She must have a pretty horrible backround to have a personality like that.

Yalinari:

Ththththat ddddepends. Hhhhow ggggod are yyyyou at apologies and ssssounding ssssincere? ... Llllook, yyyyou’ve ggggot tttto approch ththththis llllike a nnnnighttime cccconquest. Yyyyou wwwwon’t wwwwin, bbbbut ththththat’s yyyyour approach. Wwwwoo hhhher. ... Oh, and about hhhher bbbbackground – shshshow an interest. Ddddon’t ppppush tttto hhhhard. Shshshshe hhhhas ddddemons shshshshe wwwwon’t llllet mmmme nnnnear, and I’ve knnnnown hhhher ffffor a yyyyear and a hhhhalf nnnnow.

Dreune:

Well…I’ve done that before…I’ll just have bite my tongue…a lot. You know…there’s still an aweful lot of wine left. Maybe that’ll help me forget about this (he shows him the cloak.

Yalinari:

I ththththink shshshshe llllikes yyyyou!

Dreune:

Well then there’s hope!

Yalinari:

Nnnno, I wwwwas jjjjust kkkkidding. ... Bbbbut nnnnever ssssay ddddie!

Dreune:

Shall we drink to hopeless or to her backround…you know the one I mean

Yalinari:

Yyyyou ddddrink tttto ththththat mmmmy ffffriend. I’ll ddddrink tttto our Archivist. Or mmmmaybe our nnnnew jjjjourneyman animal hhhhandler. Or mmmmaybe bbbboth. I ccccan’t ddddecide. Bbbbut I ddddo knnnnow ththththis – I nnnneed tttto rrrrun into a ttttown ssssoon. Wwwwith a rrrreal wwwwoman, nnnnot ththththat hhhhorned ddddevil.

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