Secrets and Stone

[wildestmods]

Who: Need and whoever rescues her, Lloyd and 1 pal.
What: Learning from the ruins
Where: Different areas in Trollmarket
When: After the group discussion, shortly before the group will be made to move on.
Warnings/Notes: N/A for now.

Trollmarket is not an evil place, nor a place tarnished by hidden shadows.

It's a place where a good people once lived. It's a place that is losing its life-giving light as the stone dims, tragically losing something beautiful that touched the magic and life force of a world.

It's a place that was somehow ravaged by the sun by a people who found it to be poison.

There are a few things in the ruins that can help some of them learn a little more about the people that lived here - and therefore a little about the new world they found themselves in.

Comments

[hourglasshalfempty]

:Keeping it secret won't do any good: Raistlin says, as soon as Need introduces the idea. :If the others knew we'd discovered and concealed this, they'd be outraged, and I can't say they'd be wrong. This is the first thing like an explanation or a goal that we've encountered; half the reason that ridiculous fight happened is that we don't have anything to do but fight. This is, if nothing else, a direction to move in.:

The fate of the trolls doesn't move him particularly, other than a vague approval that they'd done exactly what he would do - accepted the parameters and risks of their current situation and chosen to act constructively towards a solution, rather than sit around bemoaning their fate and clinging to the way things used to be.

"Your Majesty," is how he addresses Gnome Chompsky, since he hasn't actually been told the little creature's name. "May we tell our companions about you and your people, or would you prefer to keep to yourselves?" He'd certainly thought them unintelligent pests until recent events; others, laboring under the same misapprehension, might act without care when defending their possessions.

[hasapoint]

Need grumbles wordlessly, resistant but knowing a good part of her resistance is based on things that don't apply. This isn't an organized band currently living with a group of civilians, or it can't operate like one, anyway. This is more of a direction than 'back towards the fair in the hopes of finding someone friendly instead of those unfriendlies that chased us here'. Grudgingly she pushes past herself enough to say, :You're not wrong.:

She doesn't quite say 'I told you they were people' when Raistlin addresses the gnome; she'd said it offhandedly enough to allow it to be taken to mean their shape and not personhood, plus I told you so is never helpful. But she does send him a private note of exasperation, a :They wear clothes, child.:

It's a fair question though. Several of the others have connected with the feral cats living in the cavern, creatures they're more familiar with. The gnomes are enigmatic and actively interested in what people are carrying with them - negative feelings towards them are much more common.

[wildestmods]

The gnome chatters his agreement.

He does want people to know not to harm gnomekind.

In return he tells them that he'll tell his people not to steal from them. They might not all listen, but any gnomes that disobey will be forced to return what they stole.

[hourglasshalfempty]

:They wear identical clothing. They could have easily been largely mindless magical constructs running loose without their masters, following half-remembered commands. Or an enchantment gone awry.: He'd realized they were intelligent when he saw their king and throne room; that was more than mindless repetition or re-creation could manage.

"With your permission, majesty, we will take this letter and this device to the others. It tells us that there is a place of safety not far from here, where we may find answers and guidance. If necessary, may we bring others to this library to see it for themselves?"

[hasapoint]

:Lots of people wear identical clothes and do things that are hard to understand,: Need insists stubbornly. The constructs she's familiar with are rarely put in outfits, but she really just wants to Teachable Moment this. :Different planes have very different kinds of people sometimes.:

She can't nod, but there's an impression as if she's done so. :Thank you, sire, we will tell them. If any of your people need healing, I can help.:

[wildestmods]

The gnome chatters that it's fine for them to take what they want or bring who they want to the library.

And thanks Need for the offer. Then he signals for his fellow gnomes to head back.