<24 August 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER, A+> [Theo and Julia] Over the next few hours, they accomplished very little. Every time they started to get to work, Ordus would arrive and tell Theo and Julia that one of their guests wished to speak with them. The guest would thank them and chat with Theo and Julia; inevitably, the guest would realize that there wasn't much more to talk about, and they would thank Theo and Julia once more before wandering off.

Finally, Theo checked his timer and decided to call it.

Time to Primordial Flight: 06H - 21M - 55S

"Alright, I think that we call it there," Theo said, looking around; the area that would become their basement was almost a third of the way dug out. "Harbek, Yordo. We will meet in about twenty minutes to do the last pick. Get some food, and meet us at our camp."

Kreldar translated, and they both nodded, moving off. Theo, Julia, Sylvi, Ordus, and Kreldar moved back to their camp, where Theo and Julia handed out some food from their pouches. "So Kreldar. Any other interesting news while we were gone or while we were dealing with our guests?"

"Ya' mean other than that little shit Yordo thinkin' he has a chance at takin' the Overlook from ye? No." Kreldar hesitated, "But I know he did try an' get the other dwarves from Clan Stonewrend to join 'im. I heard young Thrumli laugh in 'is face. So I don't think ye' have any worries there."

"Well, that is good to know, I guess. Thank you for the information." Julia said. "So, are we still giving him a fair shake, or are we doing this just to humiliate him?"

"I have a thought there." Theo said, "I am going to ask him flat out what he wants, and if he lies, then it's game over; Harbek automatically wins. If he doesn't lie, then we will see. But I don't think that he will be honest. Does anyone have an issue with that?"

No one opposed this idea, so several minutes later, Harbek and Yordo approached them. Theo had arranged serval stumps and rocks so that Harbek and Yordo were sat across the fire from Julia, Sylvi, Ordus, and himself. Kreldar and Ordus acted as translators, with Sylvi stepping in where she could. They made small talk, and Theo and Julia thanked them both for their efforts so far.

"Now then." Theo said, "I am going to ask you both one question. It is the same question, so it does not matter who goes first. Do either of you have a wish to go first?"

They both raised their hands. Theo smiled, "Very well, Julia will flip a coin, and if it lands on heads, Harbek will go first; if it is tails, Yordo will go first."

They both agreed to this, and Julia flipped a coin that she summoned from her Hand of Gold. It flipped through the air, and she caught it. Julia called out, "Heads."

Theo focused on Harbek, "Very well, Harbek, what do you want to achieve with your time here?"

Harbek was silent for a moment, and that silence let Theo catch the faint snort of derision that Yordo let out. Then Harbek spoke, with Kreldar translating. "I'm glad that I have the opportunity. While I'm sure all of us here are hoping to encourage ye' to work a deal with Clan Molbrak regardin' water an' potentially other things, I would be foolish to say I don't also think 'bout the potential benefits of ingratiatin' myself with both of ye' and with yer' house for potentially years to come. So, what I want is to continue to establish our relationship. Ever since the day ye' showed up on the riverbank, an' I realized ye' were the same people we were being tasked to help by Lord Darksmasher, I knew that ye' would be important neighbors not just for the Clan but also for me personally. I hope that answer is acceptable."

Theo smiled at Harbek, "It is a good answer, Harbek. We will now hear Yordo's answer, and then we will ask any other questions we have of you both. Now then, Yordo. What do you want to achieve with your time here?"

Yordo didn't miss a beat, and Kreldar started translating immediately; he must have been speaking in an exceptionally formal way because both Ordus and Sylvi had to help translate for Yordo. "Lord Sorrenson, Lady Brahmin, Lord Ordus, and Lady Karzun-Morrakai. Firstly, let me say that it is an honor to speak to you all. Now to your question. What do I want to achieve? That is not simple. Of course, like my compatriot Kreldar Runevein, I look for potential in all my relationships and acquaintances. Still, I also want to ensure that my efforts are beneficial to all parties, as well as those around me. Water, food, shelter, and a variety of issues are all things that we could potentially work together to resolve with a united resource pool provided by Clan Molbrak and what is available here on what you have named the Overlook. Despite the directive of Gurndin the Darksmasher, I have enjoyed my time here and look forward to developing other avenues of prosperity for all of us."

Julia glanced at Theo, who had a twisted grimace on his face for just a moment and poked him before he could say anything. "Kreldar, do the dwarves have a saying for someone very good at saying many words but having no meaning?"

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"Aye, we do, Lady Brahmin." Kreldar said, smiling somewhat wickedly, "We say those people have echo-tongue. Good at makin' noise but nothin' you 'aven't heard before."

Julia smiled, "Excellent; my question for both Harbek and Yordo is how would they deal with someone who has a severe case of Echo-Tongue?"

Kreldar translated, and suddenly, Yordo was not very happy. He said something harsh and turned to leave. Theo stopped him. "Kreldar tell him that if he leaves, he will be leaving on his own, now, to be escorted off the Overlook with none of the others."

Kreldar spoke harshly to Yordo. Yordo looked up at Theo and said, "VUR KHÛRZ?"

Kreldar and Harbek both began speaking angrily to Yordo. They all got quiet after a moment, and Kreldar cleared his throat. "Um. Lord Sorrenson, he says, 'Or what?'"

Theo looked at the Dwarf and, quick as a snake, reached down with both hands, grabbing fistfuls of beard and hoisting the Dwarf into the air until they were at an equal eye level despite the water starting to flow from Yordo's tear ducts. "Or what? How about we see if you can fly. How's that for 'Or what?'"

Yordo looked as if he was going to start talking when Theo cut him off. "You are here at the behest of someone who I frankly want to stay on the good side of, but I also know what you have said about Julia. I know that you tried to bribe Ordus to betray me, and I know that you tried to get Lord Darksmasher's grandson to stand against me as well, but he laughed you away in shame. So you are going to answer every question we have and take every punishment I think you deserve for your covetous and traitorous behavior, or I am going to see just how far off the side of the Overlook I can toss you. Do you understand?"

Yordo, whose eyes were watering fiercely, spoke one word. "ZÛR!"

Theo took that as acceptance and dropped the Dwarf. "Now, ask them both the question again."

A few hours of questions as Julia, Sylvi, and Ordus genuinely tried to make a decision between the two went by. Harbek, despite his initial concern at Theo's threats, had relaxed and was doing fantastic. Yordo had chosen to provide only short, vague answers. When they were done. Theo looked at everyone, "I think that we all know who gets the last spot."

They all nodded. Julia looked at Harbek. "Congratulations, Harbek, you have been granted the last spot. Now, if everyone could wait here for a moment, including Yordo, I need to have a chat with Theo."

Julia pulled Theo a ways away. "Okay. So, I know you're angry, and frankly, seeing you unload on him like that was quite cathartic after what everyone said he was saying about me. However..."

"However?" Theo asked, curious as to where she was going with this.

"However, I think that we should give him a chance to earn our forgiveness. I know that you probably want to shave his beard off or something equally humiliating, but I think that he realized that he fucked up." Julia shrugged. "I mean, don't get me wrong, the weird politician vibe that he has doesn't help anything, but I don't know that we should be making enemies. Friends seem to benefit us more in the long run. So let's give him another chance."

Theo looked at her, "Are you sure about this. You know that he probably is just going to be pissed, right?"

Julia nodded. "I think we should give him another chance and tell him in no uncertain terms what we are doing."

Theo took a deep breath and nodded. "Fine. I can see your point, but I want to be clear that if he doubles down, it means that we can no longer just humiliate him. There have to be clear and brutal consequences."

Julia nodded. "I may not like it, but I understand. This is not the world that we were in. So are we agreed?"

Theo nodded, and they walked back over to the group. Theo locked eyes with Harbek, "Harbek, congratulations. I hope that this benefits you immensely. Now then..."

Theo turned to look at Yordo. "Yordo. Julia has convinced me that you deserve a second chance. So rather than going with my initial plan of shaving your beard off and sending you sniveling back to your mother or whoever you have waiting for you, Julia and I are going to give you a second chance and a chance to earn forgiveness. Look at me when I say that if you do not change your ways and continue to pursue your previous plan, the consequences will be dire. They will not be a simple shave and humiliation. Now look at me and tell me that you understand what is going on here."

Kreldar finished translating, and Yordo nodded, speaking with Kreldar translating. "I understand, Lord Sorrenson, I'll do my best to perform better goin' forward."

Theo nodded. "Now then."

Theo checked his timer.

Time to Primordial Flight: 01H - 37M - 39S

"Julia and I have refugees to greet, and there is only an hour and a half until Primordial Flight. Gather what you need and prepare. Ordus, if you would please lead everyone to fill their water from the Deepwell and fill mine and Julia's water skins, I would appreciate it."

Ordus nodded, and everyone went off. Theo and Julia walked towards the plinth where Hestia was and arrived just in time to see the first of the Arthintry arrive.

Theo and Julia waited on the edge of the Ward runes as the first group of ten arrived. They were all women.

"Greetings," one that looked slightly older than the others said, "You must be Lord Sorrenson and Lady Brahmin. I am Nyzzara Yellkyn. I am the leader of the village and have been instructed by Lamalla that we are to shelter here. You will provide, will you not?"

Theo and Julia looked at each other and the woman, "We will, but we want to make sure that you understand you are only to stay here for the duration of Primordial Flight. You will not leave the area we have prepared for you, and you will not attempt to do us, our friends, our servants, or our guests any harm. We will also be unable to provide food for you."

Nyzzara nodded and waved a hand dismissively. "We are aware; if you are ready to let us in and show us where we will be waiting this out, it would be appreciated."

Theo shrugged, and Julia mentally designated them friends and allowed them through the Ward runes.

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