The Shovel Passed On

[Notic 953]

[!] Through the town of Bramblebury, 2 silhouettes are recognizable in the night, the ill-defined glint of a Golden Shovel is shone under the starlight. Blood follows the trail of these two men, one merely a cadaver slung over the back of the other. A blue staff digs into the soil, trying to support the two men as they trudge on. The inaudible mutters of one, only clear in his own mind, states "Just a little longer..." Alas, the gates of Kor have opened for one, and will soon greet the other. Swiftly, Monkey makes his way towards the Boo-Boo Burrow, Rolladango limp on his back as he calls out for Dr. Demeter. And then, they vanish, gone within the depths of the clinic. Gone to all whom witnessed the sight.

 

A New Thain is Selected

 

[!] Awoken in his home, Monkey finds himself bandaged, unmoving in his bed. Nevertheless, the weeman rises from his quarters, taking his shovel as he awaits repairs his now somewhat mangled staff. He walks through the village, the skies cloudy and gray, the early morning just having ended, the hour being at an estimate of 7 AM. He stops his stroll in front of the notice board, a heavy sigh leaving his mouth as he begins to nail a message to it he had written the prior night. A notice of Thainship, and of the death of a brave halfling.

 

"Dear friends and folks of Bramblebury,

I don't know how to write this, and hoped I would never have to. But alas, you must know the truth, and it cannot be left in silence. Last night, in the tunnels of Bramblebury, Rolladango Applefoot was murdered in cold blood by a man calling himself The Craven.

 

It started at about 6:45 PM. Rolladango and I met up to discuss rule changes that we had decided at the Bramblebury Town Meeting. He seemed rather interested in what I had planned, and offered that we go downstairs into the Tunnels Tavern to get a drink while we discussed. When we arrived, it started off normal, but I knew something was off. He was grinning like a madman, a shadow overcast upon his skin as one of his eyes shifted colors to a blue. He began to speak of giving me the position of Thain, going as far to threaten me to take the title or he would kill himself and frame it on me.

Without hesitation, I declined his blackmail, as it conflicts with everything I stand for. When I did this, a figure identical to him came out of the shadows and impaled him with a knife! The man called himself the Craven, and spoke of some sort of cult, further pushing this ideal of me taking Thainship. He then admitted to being the one who organized the Assassin Attacks on Fort Hope decades ago, saying he would call them to the village to hunt me down.

 

As soon as I declined, we locked into harsh combat. Before I knew it, he drove a knife into my gut and I had slashed his face with my staff, most likely blinding him. Rolladango, showing some sign of still being alive, began to help me as he caused the man to flee for his life. Soon after this, while Dango and I were fleeing to the medic, the man passed while standing up. I didn't know what to think, so I ran. Ran for help. But when help came, it was too late.

 

I am deeply sorry, Anne."

 

[!] There was then a long gap in the letter, it showing the hesitation and tension built up within Monkey Peregrin, reluctantly continuing his writing.

 

"But alas, I will not go against a dying man's final wish, and the village would be leaderless without it. I have taken Knox's Shovel, and will be taking up the role of Thain. If any have objections to this, I understand, and I am willing to listen to them and choose a better candidate if everyone agrees upon one. But I will try to keep this village safe, and I will be prepared to stop these assassins from attacking our village. I will not let you down.

 

With Much Hope and Sorrow,

 

Monkey Peregrin."

 

Spoiler

[OOC]

 

Damn that was spicy CRP, I mean fuckin' shadow demon dude shows up and starts yeeting knives at me.

 

Anyways, I do want to tell everyone that I am going to be changing a few of the village forum posts like the burrow building stuff to fit the current government system, along with enacting on everything we discussed at the meeting. Events will become a regular, scheduled occurrence, and you can look at Sunny's Event Calendar in the channel of the discord to see this month's stuff. If you want to host an event, just tell me and I'll put it in broadcasts and try and get you space for it, or don't, it really doesn't matter. If you're hosting events I am happy because activity is cool.

 

Anyways, I really hope you don't think I'm a bad Thain because I'm probably gonna be doing this for a while, so look forward to that I suppose. Have a nice day. <3

 

[HalflingPrincess 411]

After reading the letter, Greta trotted back to her burrow to open a bottle of sparkling white wine. Though nobody else was home, she raised her glass in toast to the good health of Monkey. Though democracy had not returned to Bramblebury; personal liberty, equality, and wise leadership had; and, after everything she and the village had gone through in the past decades, that would be enough. Bramblebury was not a republic, but it was a free village once more.

[zuziee 4004]

Lilabeth, though not seen around nearly as often, seemed pleased at the news! Opening up a new bottle of cider to celebrate.

[salamanderfantasy 1340]

As various other haflings have done before her, Sorrel opens up a bottle of port upon reading the letter; in both celebration of new comings, and remembrance of those passed. She would then proceed to the graveyard, making sure that the graves were tidy and everything was in order, bottle still in hand.

[OddOllie123 255]

Valu returned to see the notice on the board. A faint outline of a sorrowful frown approached his face. His lips moved to mutter under his breath. Though no one could hear, his words were true to his feelings and were spoken to Wyrvun. "Poor Tali'bortu, twas only stars ago that I watched upon their kins bloodshed. Now this... perhaps they ought to invest in protection... and to the Craven and whatever cult they have foolishly formed, how stupid they must be. I pray they are granted a time of peace where no velvet shall flood their burrows." Upon forming these words the ghostly white elf walked out of the village with a sense of grieving; which soon fled underneath the vast amount of more important thoughts of family and himself, some would say him selfish.