{"id":895,"date":"2014-03-04T12:24:27","date_gmt":"2014-03-04T17:24:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jeezjosie.com\/blog\/?p=895"},"modified":"2014-03-04T02:39:53","modified_gmt":"2014-03-04T07:39:53","slug":"bad-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/jeezjosie.com\/blog\/2014\/03\/bad-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Bad News"},"content":{"rendered":"

      Today\u2019s snippet, titled \u201cBad News\u201d, is a piece I wrote about an NPC in my Pathfinder Campaign.
\n      Be forewarned, there are mature themes and naughty language below.
\n– \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 –
\n      \tRaxim Ope swallowed hard and squeezed Eiralyn\u2019s hand. Even she did not realize the full reasons for his anxiety; he had tried, in his misguided way, to shield her from some of the horrors of his report.
\n      \tI\u2019ll need a new deputy,<\/em> he sighed. It was not unkindly meant, for he was going to miss Ragnakov, but as Phoenixa\u2019s Spymaster, he had many things on his plate and there was no time to waste. Especially not now.
\n      \t\u201cRax, you look like you\u2019re about to vomit.\u201d Eiralyn twisted one of her bouncy curls between her index and forefinger. She had a cute, stubby little nose that turned up just a tad; he loved that about her. \u201cAnything I can do? I could spell you a bit, if you really are nauseated.\u201d
\n      \t\u201cNo,\u201d he held his palm toward her, shaking his head, \u201cNo more spells. There\u2019s nothing you can do, not really.\u201d
\n      \t\u201cDakiru would bring him back, if- if that\u2019s what you\u2019re worried about. I bet even stingy ol\u2019 Baron-\u201d
\n      \t\u201cDuke.\u201d
\n      \tShe made a face. \u201cRight. Duke Gavriil would spring for it. I mean, Ragnakov was a deputy of the Council.\u201d
\n      \tThere\u2019s a shortage of diamonds<\/em>, he thought, we have the Iomedaen crusaders to thank for that. Five-thousand gold piece-gems are exceedingly precious these days, even for Dukes and Kings. But you don\u2019t need to know that, sweetling. No one does. Call it a state secret\u2026<\/em>
\n      \u201cMaster Ope, Mistress Twinklingstar,\u201d a page cleared his throat by way of announcing himself. \u201cIt\u2019s time.\u201d
\n      Hastily, he dropped Eiralyn\u2019s hand as they approached the council chamber door. Not that their affair was a secret, but it was gauche to rub it in poor Hiram\u2019s face. He had had a crush on the pretty gnome even before Raxim wooed her. With an exasperated sigh, Eiralyn stalked to sit behind Ava, who was so fat with a babe in her belly that she sort of waddled. It was quite funny to Raxim, for the Councilor was normally so lithe and graceful. He had never thought of the Baroness- Duchess!, he reminded himself, or Lady Anson, or even Lady Zehavah as \u2018fat\u2019 whilst carrying a child. But with Ava, maybe because of the way she carried herself, it was humorous.
\n      \u201cWell, Master Ope,\u201d Akiros said, his deep voice like thunder rolling across the council table. \u201cI hope you bring us good news.\u201d
\n      \u201cI don\u2019t.\u201d
\n      The Duchess, Rizlyn, winced at his frank admission and from the corner of his eye, Raxim could see her motioning for her deputy. Alice leaned forward to listen, then nodded and slipped out of the chamber. Raxim wished that he could have taken a moment to watch her leave – for he really loved to watch her go – but alas, there were important things afoot.
\n      \u201cI hate to bring such vital news before the Council in the absence of The Duke, General Novokovsky, and Lord Anson, but it really\u2026 cannot wait. I\u2019ve finally gotten word of Ragnakov and it ain\u2019t good.\u201d
\n      Mattias Darling was resplendent and golden, and if Gavriil himself hadn\u2019t been so mighty and handsome, Raxim would have said Mattias had the most kingly look of all the men on the Council. He was sitting in for Gavriil, beautiful Jehanne – his equally golden lover – was in the General\u2019s seat, and sitting in the Warden\u2019s place was Stiggard. The dwarf looked even more out of place than ever, for he had been summoned from the mead hall for this meeting, as evidenced by the bits of fried chicken stuck in his beard and the smell of ale on his breath. His wife, seated behind Lucille, seemed particularly annoyed with him. Still, Raxim knew love when he saw it and Ulrikka\u2019s was visible even as she shook her head.
\n      \u201cGo on,\u201d Rizlyn said. \u201cWhat took him so long to return?\u201d
\n      \u201cHe didn\u2019t. One of my men-\u201d
\n      Raxim narrowed his eyes, interrupting Lofi. \u201cHis body was recovered by some of the Marshall\u2019s men. He- He had been returning from Mivon, though we will never know what he discovered.
\n      \u201cRagnakov was- uh- well, the Marshall\u2019s men used the word \u2018eviscerated\u2019.\u201d Raxim stared at the broad mahogany table, avoiding eye contact as he continued. \u201cAnd uh, also, his pertinent bits were nailed to some trees.\u201d
\n      There were gasps from around the table.
\n      \u201cWho could have done such a thing?\u201d Tamira Hink\u2019s breathy voice was distinctive and he did not even need to glance at her to know she had placed a hand to her bosom in distress.
\n      \u201cThat\u2019s not the worst part.\u201d
\n      \u201cIt gets worse?\u201d This time, Lady Anson spoke. \u201cJust spit it out, if you would, there is no point in delaying the unpleasantness.\u201d
\n      Raxim nodded. \u201cThere\u2019ve been reports from the south. Crofters found slain by trappers, trappers smashed to bloody paste and smeared along stretches of road. Some folks had said it was secret retribution by Mivon, but I don\u2019t think that\u2019s the case at all.
\n\u201cYou see, I get lots of reports from lots of agents from all around. You know, its my job. And sometimes, they stack up so high and I don\u2019t get \u2018em read as quick as I\u2019d like. Maybe I\u2019d blame my deputy, but I guess since I\u2019m the one what\u2019s always sending him out to get specific info from the places and people I can\u2019t trust just anyone to get to, in the end it\u2019s my fault.\u201d
\n      He paused, glancing at Eiralyn for support. Her big blue eyes were wet and he thought that the smile she wore was sad and sympathetic, but to be honest, he was never quite sure where her mind was at any given time. He hoped she was still on his side.
\n      \u201cAnyway, about two days ago, I finally sifted to a bunch of reports what must\u2019ve come in weeks ago, during the big snows. Some of them were from a few little hamlets we\u2019re in contact with down past the Candlemere and King Vesket\u2019s lands. Word had come through about it – the smallfolk there were tortured and killed to a man, eaten, lots of them. Marrow sucked out of their bones and all. Horrible, truly. Just.. awful.\u201d
\n      \u201cWhy is this just coming up now, Rax?\u201d
\n      \u201cLook, I mean, they\u2019re not officially citizens of Phoenixa, and I mean, it wasn\u2019t purposeful or negligent. There\u2019s just so much – no, I won\u2019t make excuses. The information evaded my attention and it was my own fault. I accept the blame and if the Council wishes, I will resign my post.\u201d
\n      \u201cOh, Rax, no,\u201d Eiralyn reached for his hand across the table. \u201cSurely not.\u201d
\n      \u201cThe failing is mine.\u201d
\n      \u201cWhat do we know about the perpetrators? Obviously, they cannot be King Vesket\u2019s men. We\u2019ve just made peace with them. This could be cruel retribution from Mivon, or Pitax. I don\u2019t believe the Narthropples are likely the source. What other enemies does the state have, in the south?\u201d
\n      \u201cActually,\u201d Raxim spoke up even as the others began to discuss Mattias\u2019 question. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t the Narthropples at all. The Marshall\u2019s men who brought news of Ragnakov had news of them as well. They\u2019ve suffered several attacks in the past few months – lost a band of lumberjacks in their outer territory and their little capital as well – though not by the same killers, I think.\u201d
\n      \u201cWhy not? Do you have evidence to the contrary?\u201d
\n      \u201cYeah,\u201d Raxim nodded again. \u201cPlus, the ones we\u2019re really looking for\u2026 are trolls.\u201d
\n      The council chamber erupted in sound.
\n      Raxim sat back in his chair, his presence utterly forgotten as his peers all began talking at once. Well, you did your duty, old boy. Your fate\u2019s in the hands of the Duke now. Hope he likes halflings more than gnomes\u2026 <\/em>
\n      He sighed. <\/p>\n

– \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 –
\n\"Signed,
\nNote: Image is “Meeting room 1” by (johka) from SXC.hu<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Today\u2019s snippet, titled \u201cBad News\u201d, is a piece I wrote about an NPC in my Pathfinder Campaign.       Be forewarned, there are mature themes and naughty language below. – \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 –       Raxim Ope swallowed hard and squeezed Eiralyn\u2019s hand.… <\/p>\n

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