"I wonder if had they seen who was defending the gate, would they have changed their minds?" Greenbeard ponders aloud, "Or would they have considered us less of a threat than lazy gate guards."

He looks down at the half orc and the others.  "Find rest in the earth.  You can no longer suffer the injustices for which you gave your life to repay."

He looks to the others.  "If not for the disenfranchised or the people of the city, we owe it to our employers at least to let them know that their policies, if continued, will cause this sort of problem to recur.  May they choose the wise response to such knowledge."

 There was a long awkward pause before Johnny said, "....oops."

 

 "I don't think turning herself in would be much of an alternative etiher," Johnny says, "Although there should be alternatives to what just happened."



"Indeed," Johnny said, standing up.  "Even one of these incidences is one too many."

Merric looks at Greenbeard and then to Johnny and nods. "Yeah. This needs to end." he looks at the woman. "We'll be turning you in. The fact you are the mayor's wife, ironically, will probably save your life."

He then looks in Julia's direction. "Any way you wanna go about this, Julia? We got another 47 hours. One of use could go report this."

Julia nods to Merric. "You seem to have her well in hand, so I suggest you handle turning the... lady... in. As you said, there are still nearly the entire two days we were hired for left on this watch, so I suggest we settle in for the rest of it." She punctuates the end of her sentence by propping herself against the wall and proceeding to polish her sword.

  Eletor nods, "It would not do to stop one attempt, only to have another notice us leave and try without us here."  Whether or not their end targets deserved it, the Rebels seemed a touch too dumb to pick their targets so carefully.

"Be sure to mention a well-deserved bonus," Greenbeard asks of Merric.

He heads to the gates to take first watch.

"Yeah, definitely," Johnny replies as he pulls out his own twin daggers to inspect them, clean then off, and even juggle them for a bit.

Merric heads off with the lady.

While he's gone, a carriage pulls up. Out steps the Lord of the city. He is tall and thin. But even at his height, he doesn't step down from the carriage. Simply comes to the door and looks down his nose at the group. "So... you're the mercenaries the Captain asked to help, eh? Settling in nicely, I see... a nice, cushy job for money-grubbing opportunists, no doubt."

Julia responds with what can only be called a feral sneer, gesturing at the multitude of dead bodies being cleared away. "I suppose these corpses are somewhat cushy, but a little bloody to make decent furniture in my opinion." No rebuttal on the money-grubbing comment because a spade is, after all, a spade.

  "Well sir, we have already stopped one attempt of hopeful rebels intending to end your life."  He pulls the Dynamite from his robes, and asks "Would you like the Dynamite they intended to do the deed with my lord?  I hear such things can be quite the conversation piece among the nobility."

  What person wouldn't like free dynamite?... Wait, we're thinking in terms of most players aren't we?

Greenbeard simply salutes without comment putting on his best poker face.  What he wants to do is to offer to light the little "string" at the end of the "candle" before Eletor hands it over to the lord.  But Eletor up and spoiled that little fun by calling it dynamite.

"I take it back.  We don't owe it to them."

"Cushy?"  The jester mouse looked around seeing all the dead bodes.  "I don't think this is what I have in mind when I think of 'Cushy,' sir.  I was thinking something a bit more plush, with ample cheese and wine.  And plenty of girls for me to impress."  He gives an impish smile.  "Of course, juggling lit dynamite sticks would be a great conversation starter..but said conversation had better be pretty short."

"Ah yes... a gift. Very well." he waves a hand and a guard goes to collect the stick from Eletor. "I see the dead bodies; I am not blind. But you are not on the front lines, where the bodies go as far as the eye can see. Nor are you risking your life for anything more than money. Enjoy your job! For unlike the soldiers deep in the trenches of war, you get to live."

"Why risk our lives for a country not our own unless there is something to be gained? Let the men on the front lines have their patriotism and honorable deaths. I find no shame in living to fight another day with a heavy purse at my side. You yourself do not seem to find mercenary work so shameful that you would not hire us to defend your city in time of need, good sir." The last word is almost spat rather than spoken.

  Eletor, shining example of manners.  At least, by comparison.

  "I am certain that there will be those among your hardworking soldiers who survive the trenches, my lord.  Just as I am certain I was requested to take up this task by the church for a reason."  Good or Bad reason is still up in the air, but still.

Greenbeard can't add anything to Julia's very good point.  So he just looks for something to get rid of this pest.

"One of our company took a prisoner you might find of some interest," Greenbeard adds, "The one who opened the gates for the would-be invaders.  You'll likely find her in custody of the north gate commander."

Johnny just looks around.  "We're doing this job just so we can breathe?  What kind of job is that?"  He leans toward the lord.  "You don't choke the lives out of everyone who's down on his luck at the time, do ya?"

He then heard what Greenbeard said and nodded.  "You'll know more about everything from her, I guess.  But I fear that there's going to be more where all this..." He waves both his motley-covered arms around the carnage. "...came from, unfortunately."

To Julia, he answers, "Pff... were it MY choice, you would not be here. However, I can not defy a royal decree that all able bodies are permitted. Though..." he briefly glances at the dead bodies. "I will at least give you that you are able bodies."

The Lord looks down at Johnny and says dismissively (and almost with pity), "...I shouldn't expect you to understand half of what I say. You need money, so it goes to follow you lack education."

He looks to Greenbeard. "Ah... a useful comment. Very well. I'll let you get back to your... trophies." that last part said with disgust as he enters the carriage and it takes off.

As soon as the carriage has suitable distanced itself, Julia sighs. "Strutting peacock. That soppy milquetoast wouldn't last a second in battle."

  "Most leaders that last any stretch of time would not, Julia.  Just as those who most preach the downfall of Evil in Kord's name do so from a temple.  If only because the ones who last any length of time avoid more battles than they take part in."  Sword and Sorcery setting expectations aside.

  "Does not mean you are wrong, of course."

"Yes.  Many hive queens are good for little more than eating and laying eggs," Greenbeard agrees, "But with enough pheromones and displays of power an new queen can supplant the old one."

He gazes in the direction of the front lines.

"But I get the feeling that a new leader won't replace this one in time for this hive to survive.  I'm thinking it might be wise to make tracks after our payment."

Johnny visibly facefalts the Lord's comment.  He even tries to sell it by shaking his leg.

"Lacking Education, he says," Johnny mutters as he gets back up after the Lord leaves.  "You don't believe what you have to learn to be a Licensed Fool."

He looks up to Greenbeard and nodded.  "Good plan.  Besides, I don't think I'm welcome much into the taverns in this town anyway."

Merric eventually returns and looks annoyed. "...thanks for sending that snobby guy my way, guys. If it was a practical joke, it wasn't funny."

"So he was just as endearing to you, eh?" Julia places her thoroughly polished sword back in its scabbard. "Any news from the guard?"

  "Is it not worth knowing who one is protecting, Merric?  Of course, we have not met most of the townsfolk come to think of it."  Nah guys, this City should totally burn because the Lord in charge is annoying.  Wait.