The Council Call

[Degren Brightforge]

After setting out and informing the people of the Town that he wishes to call a Council meeting, Degren sits in the Inn, waiting. After Lady Valeriya and Grayfeared arrive, as well as enough members of the town, he finally begins.

"Hello everyone. I have a couple ideas that I wished to propose. The first proposition that I wish to bring up is the idea of a Council Call. A horn, or a bell-- anything that can be heard from a long ways away so that the Council can form together in times of need. This idea comes from Sheriff Gurok, and I agree with her. It is my belief that any Council member, Council Second, or Council Third who hears this call should make all the effort to go to it. This will avoid the unnecessary unpleasantness that happened during the Trial of Ser Datura."

He waits a few moments before continuing again, " My second proposition concerns the Town's treasury. We have in our possession several valuable items that were given to us as gifts by the people of Kineven. Those jewels are worth a great sum, a sum that could be put towards improving the town's defenses. I have written up several messages to send to the city of Ner Batin. One is to the Bank of Ner Batin. I hope to use some of the jewels as collateral for a loan, it will allow us to sure up our defenses and increase our fighting capabilities. Then, after we are better defended, we can begin to recover the treasure needed to pay back the bank. The second is to the Jewelers Guild. They might purchase a few of our Jewels at base price-- at the very least, they can help us to appraise the Jewels. "

" After we manage to turn those Jewels into currency, I suggest that we use some of it for the purchasing of necessary equipment. I mentioned earlier that we needed to sure up our defenses. To do that, we will need to increase the strength of our fighting forces. Our fighting forces need metal, weapons, magical items, potions, and much more. I suggest we use this money to buy the raw materials for these items. We have skilled smiths and Alchemists who can turn useless base materials into weapons and potions of great strength. And, we can use any surplus as trade. An Exceptional longsword can be made for 8 units of metal, but can likely sold for up to 10 rocks. A net gain of two rocks. That could help us produce an income and-- above that-- a reputation. That repute could help us in many, many ways. Additionally, we could afford to outfit all our fighters with finer weapons, finer armour, potions of healing, potions of strength, antidotes, mana, and magical items. These are ideas, but they could one day change the place we live for the better. What do you all think?"

[Ivy]

"I've got s bit of input to share," Hugo announces.

"In regards to your first point: I feel as though setting a standard time if meeting to abide by could be equally as useful as a big brass horn or something along the lines of that. I put forward the motion of making a standard council meeting time of a sunday morning, once a month at minimum. That is not to say that these are muturally exclusive motions, rather that perhaps both should be seriously considered."

"In regards to how best to expend the treasury, I ask that we at the very least invest in equipping the sheriffs department with restraining tools such as manacles, as well as locksmith and rope-tying training for members of the sheriffs department. Currently the best we can do is have Sir Pierre tie people to posts and help keep them there, and we didn't even own that rope."

"Furthermore, I would like to discuss some other matters concerning the Sheriffs department while we're all here, if we can find the time"

[Joy Rosewood]

*Joy puts her hand*

"I vill give ze Sheriff manacles, provided of course I get ze materials to make ze manacles, und training in ze locksmithing. Also, I zink ze monthly meetings are a goot idea."

*Joy takes a sip of her beer*

[Degren Brightforge]

Degren considers Hugo, " Locks and rope require skills to use. I'm sure Ser Pierre would have no problem with offering training to the Sheriffs. Joy would be an excellent teacher. Equipping our Sheriffs should be one of our top priorities; just below ensuring that we can defend ourselves. Our biggest threat is, for the most part, external. Demons, undead, giant monsters and the such do not often fall under the jurisdiction of the Sheriffs. After we are finished with suring up those defenses, we should provide you with manacles. In fact, I have a set here somewhere that we can use; though, I admit-- they don't have any locks. They're closed with a peened pin. Removing them involved cutting that pin. What else did you wish to discuss?"

[Ivy]

"Degren, I hate to be contrary, but the sheriffs department is as important as the likes of the knights for the defence of the town, albiet against the likes of thieves and other criminals. Since, as I've said, the sheriffs department currently has no tools to function correctly beyond the weapons myself and the sheriffs carry each day, and since manacles and locksmith training shouldn't cost us even a fraction of the treasury, I would argue that taking care of the sheriff's lack of any law enforcement tools should be done before what I understand would be upgrades to the equipment of the town's fighters."

"These things arent muturally exclusive, mind you, and if you want to spend the rest if the treasury on antidotes and sliver I wouldn't be bothered. So long as the sheriffs can actually lock up conviced criminals somehow."

Hugo clears his throat, and takes a sip of some red liquid.

"As for what I wanted to discuss, I wanted to discuss the roles and responsibilities of myself, as commissioner, as compared to the role of the town sheriffs. I understand, based on bits I've heard here and there, that I'm just supposed to be responsible foe the actions of the Sherrifs, and officiate over trials. In addition to this, I've also had to pull guard duty and otherwise perfom the same duties as the Sheriffs. I would like to hear the council's opinion on officially adjusting the roles and responsibilities of the commisioner to reflect these present circumstances. Otherwise, I'd like to hear from the council their percise definition of commsioner, and what they see as my role and resposibilities."

[Degren Brightforge]

"The Commissioner role is similar to my position as Grand Marshal. My role is exactly the same as any Knight, but I have many other responsibilities as well. I take care of logistical problems, command, and provide for the Order out of my own pocket, giving metal, gold, and time to their betterment. You should be expected to do exactly that. You are a leader, and as such, should provide an example for the people you lead. You are not above them in any way, but are there to provide and serve them so that they may provide and serve for the people of Holdfast. So, pulling guard duty and performing the same duties as Sheriffs is right where you should be."

[Joy Rosewood]

"Vait, I zought you vere ze field marshal. I must've misheard you earlier..."

*Joy sips her beer*

[Ivy]

"Well said, Degren. I accept that that should be my resposibility, especially given that there are so few among the sheriff's office.

[Grayfeared the Whitehawk]

I am all for your ideas Degren. The horn would make a good calling for meetings that may need to be had. If we have a scheduled meeting on a Sunday besides that, we would be prepared to run the town much better.

I also support the idea to strengthen the towns defences. However, the law enforcement in town should have at least 2 sets of manacles, and some stocks first. 2 sets of manacles means we can shackle at least 3 criminals. Just shackle them to each other, then shackle them to a table or railing or something of a hard to move nature.

I will also point out that not all fighters are members of the knights. We have Asher and Gurok for example. Both of them have shown great abilities in combat. We should choose how we spread the resources wisely when deciding how to improve the towns defences.

[Degren Brightforge]

Degren looks somewhat confused, " I'm sorry, I didn't mean to infer that I wanted to use the materials solely for the Knights. I believe I said that the 'fighting force' should be better equipped-- as it stands most, if not all, of the Knights of my Order are equipped with exceptional weapons, from my own store of metals. When I say fighting force, I mean the people like Gurok and Asher who stand and fight in the night. People who stand and fight should be rewarded-- but only those who fight. Our resources should not be wasted on those who cower in the bunk house and the inn when trouble falls on the town; that said, those people are welcome to do that, but should not be rewarded for that behavior."

[Lady Val]

"I agree with the idea of having some sort of horn for town meetings, even if they are regular. At least it gives order and structure."

"I also agree with strengthening the town's defences in the form of stocks and equipment for the Sheriff's office and those who fight but are not a formal part of the Knights company. However, I feel that it is a bit harsh to say that our resources are 'wasted' if we give them to those who, as you so eloquently put it, 'cower in the bunkhouse'. May I remind you all that they are the people who you are fighting for and the people who support you during your battles -- the medics who repair your wounds, the smiths who repair your armour, the mages who enchant your weapons, the enchanters who give you magical items, and the alchemists who protect you from toxins. Very few people in this down purely 'cower in the bunkhouse' during battles, and those who do seek shelter or do hide often do so after they have left the fighters of the town with supplies to increase their ability to defend it. Fighting with swords and shields may be how some choose to defend Holdfast but it is not the only way. Better medical tools, alchemy ingredients, smithing tools and materials, items to enchant, spell ink and parchment, and mana keepers could all help the townspeople and defenders as well."

"Which, I may add, gives me an idea. Does anyone think it would be beneficial for Holdfast to invest in traps and the like? It may help reduce the number of casualties and prevent things from sneaking up on us at night and Joy may need to learn more about them if she is going to be learning how to make locks and shackles."

[Joy Rosewood]

*Joy finishes her beer*

"I've been zinking about traps. I am not a trapmaster yet; I'm vorking on zat. Hier iz ze issue: A trap does not distinguish between a vampire's leg and a knight's boot. At night, it's hard to see, und I vorry zat traps vould catch our own feet more zan ze monsters. Zere vould need to be planning. Not to mention ze materials involved in making enough traps to catch zings in zem. Despite zese issues, I zink it vould be a goot idea to at least experiment."

*Joy orders an ale*

[Lady Val]

"Ah well yes that would be the problem with traps, but perhaps with an appropriate system in place it may work. Maybe we could highlight traps with glowing ink or sap from luminous flowers or mushrooms. The monsters may not know what the glow means but allies of Holdfast would and would know to stay away from the area."

"Additionally, as unofficial treasurer for Holdfast, since we are talking about town funds, I think we should keep some money in reserve in case we need it for repairs or to get the town or our members out of a sticky situation. For instance, the misunderstanding between Bikbun and the Brothers Potential or, more recently, the deal Keket made with the Halflings to have a multi-faith temple built in Holdfast. I mean, if someone comes to try and collect a bounty on Ser Skye for instance, or if Talia is taken hostage by bandits, I don't think anyone would agree with us just standing by and letting them be brutally murdered, kidnapped, assassinated, or sold into slavery. Having funds put away for such unexpected occurrences would probably be a good idea."

[Ardin Gallagher]

"Continuing from Hugo's comments on commissioner, what are the exact duties for the sheriffs? I was given little information besides being told I was appointed sheriff and then left to my own devices, and when I carried out what I had assumed the duties were to be it was met with complaint.

I agree that we need the tools to perform law enforcement, and that it should not be completely neglected for the time being. The resources for these tools would be minimal compared to the usual tools and weapons made.

As for the funds for defense, I'd hardly call those who take up residence within the bunks or inn 'cowardly', those who create the arms and armor and potions are no less vital to everyone's survival than those who stand against the monsters attacking us, and without healers saving us and staying safe in the inn there'd be no one left in Holdfast. They deserve just as much recognition and reward for their actions."

[Degren Brightforge]

"I apologize if I've wronged anyone, but it my belief that anyone who can should fight. Medics can work in the field just as efficiently as they can in the inn. To me, it is a waste to supply enhanced arms and armor to people who won't use them-- especially when they could be used in the hands of a skilled warrior. I have great respect for the many men and women who help to patch up the wounded, I Really do, but I know many medics who fight on the field. You are right, very few people do cower, I spoke out of turn-- but those that do, should not be supplied with resources that could otherwise save their lives in the hand of someone more capable... I like the idea of traps, but I'm afraid of having my legs blown out from under me in the dead of night. We could use them on a more instantaneous basis. Setting a trap a few minutes before we lead a target into it?"

[Ivy]

"Degren, I don't think anyone was suggesting we get arms and armour for the medics and alchemists and mages. rather, we supply them with surgical equipment, alchemical resources, scrolls, mana shards, and the like."

"Anyways, traps could be useful. Setting up tripwires behind the inn and by the back doors could be good for catching the besties that keep beating the doors in. If we chart out where we've set traps at night and keep vigilant in these areas we should be fine. Even so much as rigging up chimes in these places would go a long way in alerting us to incoming creatures."

[Joy Rosewood]

"Yah, I could setup basic perimeter defenses. It vould be good to know vhen zey flank us."

[Lady Val]

"I don't think having our Knights getting caught in our own traps would be beneficial, a marker system, chimes, or charts would definitely be needed, but, yes, perimeter defences would definitely help reduce ambushes at night. Perhaps you could get our local thief Pocket to help you, he seems to know how to use traps given the assortment of components found in his satchel."

"Just because someone can fight doesn't mean that they want to fight, but that is besides the point. I think what Hugo and I are trying to say is that town finances should be for more than just armour and weapons. Actually, if the townsfolk would be in favour of this motion, I would like to put my name forward to take on the role of town treasurer in a more official capacity."

[Malva]

Malva, who had joined with the group of townspeople Degren had gathered, gives Degren a smug look after his comments about resources and cowering in the inn. She then takes a sip of her drink and looks back over the council members.

[Purrsephone]

Purrsephone chirps up for the first time since coming in.
"Mew mew, I am I useless too? Cuz I'm sure thats child labour... mew mew?"

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