A Trip to the Country

[Paragon]

"That was the start, as -- "

"You got to start a fire in people," Balut interrupted, breaking from the door to move towards the two women, the sullenness he'd displayed melting into a sudden intensity. "You got to build it careful, real delicate, until it's too big to put out. Then you got to give it something to burn."

"Thank you, Balut, for the . . . analogy," Rivos said, quite loud, and Balut broke off. The crippled man folded his arms defensively and slouched, but he didn't apologize. Quite like the human man.

"The Paragon is more than a paper. We are prepared to take the necessary steps should we receive enough backing from dissatisfied citizens. Of course, that is not in our job description, despite our own enthusiasm and support. The paper must keep running. We must be heard. But there are others who are ready and able to take action." He glanced at Aura, who was sitting still and blank faced, watching the others talk with sharp attention.

"What action would that be?" Aura asked, her chin lifted in challenge.

"Marn itself is a city that has decayed because of its unwillingness to change. The idea of it would be considered appalling to the Puradynes. Our officials are swollen upon their power, trapped at the table by their ego and despotism, even as they continue to swallow all that they can. I doubt they would consider the overhauls necessary to save Marn from becoming a rotten footnote within Thar Shaddin's history. No, we must break the back of the city so that it has room to grow anew. I am not talking simple rebellion, ladies, for all the gossip that flies about these days. I am talking of revolution."

Rivos softened with that word, as if the romance of the concept transcended the violence implicit in his short speech. But then it trickled from his face as weariness and reality flooded back, and he exchanged a grim look with Balut. Neither man was quite comfortable with the concept of a full scale revolt in the city, for all they yearned for the curent regime to be overturned.

[Breda Dreaughan]

Breda shivered. She knew what Aura was thinking. She would want to join, to stand up for the poor and the weak against those in power, the bloody monk with her crusade for goodness!

Although still relatively young for a dwarf, Breda had already lived longer than most humans ever did. She had learned to recognize the moments that would change the direction of her life. Leaving home as a kid had been the first one, becoming a prostitute another, and meeting master Vondan the third. Right here, right now, was the fourth one.

They are doomed to fail. No way they're going to defeat the city! Why should I get involved? I'm good now. I'm fine, I'm part of this society. Why should I gamble it all?

So now that I've become one of them, I'm going to become just like them? Close my eyes from the likes of me? Become willfully blind? Besides, no way I'm safe from them. If I do something they don't like, I'll still disappear. If master or Mrs Vondan do something they don't like, they'll disappear. What if the child is born with magic? Will they take us both? I wonder what happened to the fox-shifter guard who saved my life a few months ago, did they find her out?

You haven't won, Breda. The war isn't over. And what if the revolution really happens? Which side do you want to be on? What if they find out that master Vondan helped the gnome with his machines? Would you be on the other side from him? Would you really?

She closed her eyes and bent her head, as if swallowing something sour. When she spoke, her voice was slow and reluctant.
"So… how does one go on about, starting a revolution? I'm guessing there is more people than the three of you behind all this?"

[Paragon]

"Carefully," Rivos said, giving Breda a considering look. His day had brightened considerably, but long years of patience and caution held his tongue when he might otherwise have blithely answered the lady's question.

An idea struck him, and he opened his satchel, pulling out first a pristine copy of the lastest newsletter they'd put out, as well as a callously handled piece of literature that was clearly propaganda from the other side. A piece of propaganda that they'd schemed to counter-produce, and had come to the little cabin for some page proofs for the editor's approval. The page proofs were still within his satchel; he'd be strung up before he allowed anyone to lay hand on work that was not yet complete.

"Read those and tell me what the two of you think."

[Breda Dreaughan]

As Breda wasn't much of a reader, Aura took the papers and read them out loud. Breda sat silently, listening, and watching the expressions of the two men. There was something similar in the language of both documents, but only one of the worlds described in the contents she could recognize.

"Bloodthirsty and merciless, eh?" She said, with a biting tone, after Aura had finished. "Oppressive? And here I thought I knew something about dwarves." She glanced from Rivos to Aura, who was still staring at the papers, apparently attempting to set them on fire with her eyes. "I notice that humans seem to have done nothing wrong, lucky you. I wonder why you bother with all this. You're obviously the good guys."

Her eyes returned to the papers. "I've been ruined." Her voice was soft. "I was born ruined. I never thought it could change. I didn't think there was an option."

[Paragon]

"That's just some bitch," Balut supplied helpfully, though his eyes were dark. "Ain't right how people're treated, no matter who they come from."

"Yes, and though corruption shall always exist, the brutality displayed by Marn is exceptional. Not even the darkest provinces in Eyropa treat their citizens thus."

From below the floor came a series of metallic crashes, followed by loud cursing. The floor vibrated, and then it went quiet again. Balut moved to go down the stairs, but Rivos held up a hand to stay the other man. "Wait, show them your dominant hand."

Balut gave Rivos an ugly smile, and brandished his stump at the women like a weapon. It was wrapped with cloth, as it always was, ending slightly above where his wrist should have been. "Misunderstanding between me an' the guards. Thought I was a thief. Thought wrongly. Spent some time below Justice Halls. . .let me go 'cause one of the sergeants had some of me artwork, right?"

There was more to the story. There always was, but Balut abruptly stopped talking and simply stood, staring at his missing hand with a naked, awful hunger.

"Thank you, Balut. Vulkovich likely requires your aid."

Balut nodded, sharp, fresh anger and shame crossing him before he shut it all away, tucking his stump into his trouser pocket as though that solved the problem. His tread was light as he took the stairs, but then he'd always been good at hiding away his personal nightmares when he wasn't drunk. It was a cruel thing to display an imperfection like an advertisement, and Balut was grown cruel. Sometimes, in the reaction of others he found a momentary respite from his own ongoing horror; Rivos had seen as much in the few years he'd known the man, in the minute changes of expression when he caused others revulsion.

Necessities weren't always pleasant.

"Not all of us are not so personally affected, but that doesn't make us immune to the hardships of others, and to the wrongdoing that happens daily. To be devoid of compassion for other people, that is worthy of comment. Diversity must be allowed to grow. The prejudices of religion must be broken free. Life -- and magic -- must equally be allowed to flow through Marn, or else we will face utter ruin."

[Breda Dreaughan]

Aura hissed at Balut's story, Breda shook her head grimly. The dwarf watched after Balut as he disappeared to the cellar. She'd seen enough people like that. Most fell apart, but a few turned their history of abuse into bitter strength. They kept on living, sometimes even found their way upwards. Usually not very far up, though.

You're lucky, Dreaughan. You've still got all your bits. Several extra bits at the moment, in fact.

Aura looked Rivos directly in the eyes. "What do we do?"

[Paragon]

Rivos' eyes gleamed. Pride, perhaps, excitement surely -- but there was something deeper in his eyes, more primal. Paragon meant more to him then simple rebellion. There was more at stake for him, personally, than the fate of the city and his place within it. For a moment, fey longing flashed across his face, and he turned his face down to the floor, breathing through it until a rakish smile overtook him.

"That depends wholly on you, does it not? First there must always come trust before all else. You've seen the heart of Paragon's mission. You'll be followed for a time. If you wish to be left alone, simply lay low and you'll not be bothered. If you'd like to help, there are many ways a person might make a difference. We need eyes and ears, around the city. We need friends within the guard and if possible within the government's officials. We need weapons, armor, medical supplies, food stores, safe spaces to meet. If you'd like to learn more, perhaps earn tasks, then you'd best find The Rathole. It's a tavern near the historical district, low key."

Rivos reached up and wiped a hand across his mouth, suddenly remote and serious. "Of course, we could always use more input in the paper. Getting the articles done, and getting the paper circulated without being caught is a dangerous task. What say the two of you?"

[Breda Dreaughan]

The two women exchanged a glance. "I don't really read, or write," Breda said, shrugging. "I could possibly help with weapons and armor. But I won't get my master in trouble. Could look into medical supplies too, I sort of know people at the hospital." She smiled faintly at Aura. "I suppose you'll want something physical."

The human mirrored Breda's shrug. "I don't want to hurt anyone unnecessarily. I could look into safe spaces. Or go to The Rathole. I'm a waitress, I hear things. Maybe I could help in getting the paper around. I'll think about it."

Breda nodded. "I hear things too. Artisans talk. And I know someone in the guard. I haven't heard from her in a while, but I think she'd be supportive. I'll see if I can find her."

She stood up, stretching her back. "We'll see what we can do. Keep an eye on us if you wish, but make sure you don't get our friends in trouble. I don't want master Vondan dragged of to the Justice Hall just because Paragon people have been nosing around the smithy. Okay?"

[Paragon]

"Ladies, this is revolution. While care and caution are taken most seriously, there are no guaruntees. In the meantime, you have made this place your home and we shall respect that, but know there is serious danger in living here. Should the guards find this place. . ." Rivos shrugged. "You may use me as your contact, if it pleases you. Leave notes, should our paths not cross otherwise. We will continue to be discreet; it is unlikely you will see us unless we arrange to meet. Now, if you will excuse me, I should see to those page proofs. Good day, ladies."

Rivos sketched a graceful bow, and walked to the stairs. He paused momentarily, as though he might say something else, but then squared his shoulders and thudded down the stairs.