Simple Measures

There'a this village, see.

The village is named Shrotenheim. Recently, reports of a riot there lead Alexandria to dispatch first its own militia and then you. The militia will be filling you in when you get there, apparently, but for the moment you're on the road.

Despite being on the road, Shara is in pretty good spirits. She's strumming away at her lute and riding on horseback. Can't be too bad....so far.

Morgan says to the group some she knows and the others she will get to know "Dont they know Adventures make bad law keepers, even the Palidens one." she pats the side of the horse she is riding "If we wanted to be law keepers we would of joined the city guard."

Razen trails along at the back of the group steadily, but not in high spirits. He watches those among the party that he knows, and resists staring at Iskandar's back. The half-orc has the stance and air of someone with much on their mind. Which is in fact the case.

Sylvi for her part is always happy to help, with any luck she can convince the townspeople to settle things without a whole lot of fuss. After all no way the militia has her natural gnomish charm. Or the black panther she is riding, that probably helps too.

Iskandar says, "Militia, eh? I wasn't sure Alexandria even had one." He walks along with long distance-eating strides, a bow held in one hand. "And they travel the countryside as needed...?"

"...so does this riot thing happen often this close to the city?" Lorik, shadow elf new to the surface world, is one known to ask questions. He walks along, the well worn trail easy enough to follow. Across his back is the bulk of a repeating crossbow, just in case something /does/ go wrong.

Not that he is expecting it to. I mean this is supposed to be easy right?

"I mean we're more there to help the militia, not really to keep the law or anything like that right?"

A pause.

"I mean I know a lot about other laws, but not laws /here/."

At the back of the adventurer train, Donna has been a silent rider during the trip. As Morgan speaks up, however, her hood raises a bit. "...We're not law-keepers," she says, gauntlets creaking a bit around the reins of her plodding mare. "We weren't the first choice. We're *everybody's* backup plan, law included."

Finally pulled into the conversation by the suggestion that they might be here to be lawmakers Razen offers the shadow-elf he is unfamiliar with a toothy grin. "She is right. The real question though is why they are fighting rather than doing what-ever villagers do?"

Morgan shrugs "I have a feeling something is controlling all this from behind the sceen making sure the anger is rilled up."

Nasrin cheerfully marches along, single-bitted great axe braced against a shoulder. She marches with a sprightly manner in her crimson plate inscribed with the symbols of Kore, the sigil of greatsword and battleaxe on her right shoulder. She's somehow managed to brace the unwieldy weapon so that she can hold a drum in her right hand and play a marching beat with her right. "It's a good day for people to be causing trouble, at least. Warm, plenty of room for lining up a charge..." She shrugs. "What does it matter why in any case? Conflict is a way for easing social pressures and strengthening themselves. As long as it isn't coerced by magic..."

Shara says, "You never know. COuld be corrupt officials...."

"Well I suppose that is kind of reassuring? That people trust us enough to clean up a mess." Lorik says after a moment as people chime in to explain it to the poor fellow. "But good then, I'm guessing this rioting thing isn't a common thing. And..." He frowns a moment. "...if there is a riot we talk them down right?"

Look. He has to make sure of these things right?

There is a wry smile though as Nasrin makes a comment on the state of the day as he flashes a grin as the red-armored priest. "Isn't every day a good day to cause trouble?"

He can't help it.

Razen, looking uncomfortable lapses back into silence once again, falling a bit further back so that he is even behind Donna's mount rather than beside it. "Magical force... why does this keep coming up?" He mutters the words to himself and rubs the haft of his heavy flail in a self-comforting manner.

Donna snorts. "Who has to be *behind* anything?" she says, shaking her head. "Could be scared of something. Could be they're sick of paying taxes. Could be one of those 'we don't want you sort around here' idiots. Could be a hundred things, most of them boiling down to 'sometimes people just suck.'" Settling back in her saddle, she scratches at the wrappings over her arm, eyes on the road ahead. "We'll find out why when we get there. Then maybe we'll know how to get 'em to knock it off."

Morgan looks to her Half orc friend "Just dont take any strange coins."

Nasrin laughs softly as Lorik replies to her and she says simply, "Well, when the weather is poor it's usually a good itme to hide htat you are causing trouble. Maybe sneak up behind..." She shrugs slowly. The drum continues to set the pace, a rumbling beat that matches the progress of the group perfectly. A military beat, in other words.

After a moment Nasrin replies to Razen as well, though he had been mostly speaking to himself. "People will use whatever tools they have to get control of their lot in life. War, mind control... As long as magic exists it will be misused because the nature of sentient races is not to follow rules. It's to win. Victory is the final arbiter." She shrugs once. "One way or another, we'll make sure they know they've chosen wrong."

"Yes, hopefully the militia will have figured out the cause of things." Lorik replies with a nod towards Donna and a flash of a smile. Then a chuckle again as he looks towards Nasrin. "Well true, but its still causing trouble. Just a different kind of trouble. A sneaker kind, which I suppose is what I'm more used too."

The discussion of magic though causes him to sigh and nod. "She's right about that. Its another tool, for good or bad."

Sylvi nods to Donna "Exactly! Its like when the Bacon Bandito took on the meanest, biggest hog around, Ham-Bony, in Pigwrestling and finally ended its 5 year undefeated streak. They say he was half boar don't you know!" she adds with a grin and takes a breath.

"Anyway, everyone partied so hard 2 barns caught fire, the mayor was found hangin' from the steeple by his underwear and the well water was replaced with some foreign drink called 'Tequila'" she adds with a shrug "What if we got the village a lot of tequila?"

Morgan likes the idea of every one getting drunk "Na I am dating some one, and I need is some cute farm boy and some strong booze."

Razen perked up a bit at the ideas floating around. Hoping that there was no magic involved, nothing that a good few drinks couldn't fix. "Might not sound good to you Morgan, but it sounds like a party to me." He flashes her a big grin.

"I'm pretty sure that does count as a riot," Lorik replies with a grin towards Sylvi "But if we got that much of some strong drink I don't think we would remember the next week." A pause. "Well that could have been what happened. Even the villagers wouldn't know what they had done..."

Ah, there! In the distance!

The village of Shrotheim!

You can hear sounds coming from it! SOUNDS OF BATTLE!

...wait, no. It's singing. It looks like the township is split down the middle with two sides, each singing at the other. Loudly.

It's incomprehenisble at this point, but there's /definitely/ something going on. And the guards sent? They 're right in the middle of all of it with rather beleguered expressions.

Lorik just blinks at all this. "...I think this mysterious 'tequila' is suddenly starting to look like the likely culprit."

<OOC> Razen says, "Sorry guys IRL emergancy just popped up I'mma have to bail" <OOC> Floofystink says, "...aw :(" <OOC> Nasrin says, "I hope you are okay!" <OOC> Lorik says, "YOu get a Nom anyway!!" <OOC> Floofystink says, "ALl good, Razen. I hope things are okay." <OOC> Lorik says, "Take care Raz!" Nasrin lets out an equally incomprehensible shout when the group is close enough to make out the singing. Drum in hand she surges forward toward the source of the... Loudest noise? As the sounds of the village faded into audibility, Donna seems to perk in the saddle, nudging her horse at a slightly quicker place. Then the din resolves into singing, and the small human's face goes from concerned to.... confused.

Pulling up short at the edge of the sing-off, she fixes the guard with the most rank decoration on his outfit with a puzzled look.

"........Okay *what.*" <OOC> Razenwaves. Razen has disconnected. <OOC> Nasrin worships conflict, NOT violence... Per se. Morgan sighs as she sees what they are doing "If any have lame chants I will wish I had fireball." she looks towards and hopes this will not take long. Iskandar has a look of awe on his face. He's heard about this sort of thing happening, but always thought it to be a legend. "...it's a dance-off." Sylvi shakes her head "I don't know, if it was tequila there would be a lot more slurring and falling over I think." she says calmly riding her panther closer. "Maybe we just need to yell louder?" Shara says, "Hmmm......." She seems to be wanting to observe first."

"...true," Lorik says with a shake of his head towards Sylvi. "Well...lets see what the guards have to say..." Lorik says as he moves closer to the gaggle of bemused guards, as Donna addresses them, the Inquisitor looks about instead, trying to see if either side has any...leaders? To talk to perhaps?

What even causes this.

[Public] Vaalyun has joined this channel. [WhirlChan] Morgan has joined this channel. [WhirlChan] Shivani has left this channel. [WhirlChan] Astaren has left this channel. hi <OOC> Lorik says, "Can I roll perception to see if there /are/ leaders or if this is just spontanious strangeness XD" <OOC> Morgan says, "after that I will cast detect magic" Iskandar nods in agreement. "That would seem the right place to start." He casts an apprehensive look that he tries to pass off as smirking confidence at each faction of villagers, then walks towards the militia members in the middle. The guards are looking like they have a serious headache over all of this. Upon seeing the arrival of NAsrin DRUMMING AND SHOUTING INCOMPREHENSIBLY, you can see a multitude of hands go over faces.

One waves his hands at the lot of you and begins to leave the group, aiming to intercept before NASRIN can JOIN THE FESTIVITIES. 

As you get closer, the shouting begins to turn into two, duelling ballads from the sound of it. There's a form and structure to it, it's just that... nobody's particularly talented, most of it's off key, and they're all a bit hoarse.

hi Shara says, "This doesn't look like a riot at all. It's a battle of the bards!" She then laughs at this." "....Oh this is going to end well," Donna mutters, sighing as Nasrin breaks away to join in, unheeding. But, it seems that it got one of the guards to break off to fill the party in, so.... net win?

"You called for adventurers," she says as the guard closes. "*Why* did you call for adventurers. .....Actually forget that. What in the *everything* is going on?" "You can sing louder than that," Nasrin is shouting, rising onto the balls of her feet to look over the shoulder of the burly guardsman now acting with the unenviable task of attempting to prevent her from joining the crowd. [WhirlChan] Morgan says, "I swear if this turns in to a foot lose." [WhirlChan] Nasrin will clearly win, she has the spirit. [WhirlChan] Lorik says, "And the drum!" [WhirlChan] Nasrin says, "Also, Nasrin doesn't get tired. Yay for bonuses to resist fatigue!" [WhirlChan] Boshter says, "SHE'S A MANIAC" <OOC> Nasrin wants to buy a masterwork instrument. She thought she'd already masterworked this drum. This is a trravesty! [WhirlChan] Boshter says, "MAAAANIAC ON THE FLOOOR" <OOC> Shara coughs. <OOC> Shara has a lute. [WhirlChan] Nasrin says, "And she's dancing like she's never danced before!" Sylvi raises her hand to greet the one guard splitting off to give them the low down "Whats the word?" she says speaking up to be heard "Is this what they call opera?"

"It'll be fine I'm sure," Lorik says with a shake of his head as he keeps an eye on the crowds, the words are directed more towards Donna as the shadow elf follows along towards the guards.

He's interested in the same thing. I mean this is not normal behavior.

At least he doesn't think it is.

I mean people can be really strange sometimes.

"I don't think this is opera!" Calls Lorik back towards Sylvi. "Opera involves more screaming!" ...what kind of opera is he used too?

Best not to ask.

Shara walks on up to the guard and tilts her head. "What's going on?" "...oh thank the GODS. We haven't been able to get them to stop! We need your help. We called adventurers because... because.. it's ABOUT adventurers. They're singing the ballads of two local heroes. They passed a law honoring one and didn't pass a law honoring the other and it's a BIG mess. Now the villiage is split right down the middle over it. They already ran the mayor out of town."

He pinches the bridge of his nose. "You'd think if they just passed a law to honor the other, that'd make everyone happy, but no. It's more complicated than that." 

He's hoarse too. From shouting.

Shara says, "What's the complication?" Morgan pinches the bridge of her nose "why do you need laws to honor any one, cant you praise who ever you want." Sylvi thinks about it for a moment "Maybe they need a new hero? Like the Bacon Bandito? The famous pig-wrestler?" she offers as a suggestion. <OOC> Floofystink cracks up. hi

"...its always more complicated than that..." Lorik mutters as he shakes his head. "Alright, whats the short version though? What do they want to get them to /stop/ this nonsense? I mean the've obviously been going at it for awhile now..."

Iskandar looks between one group of villagers and the other as the guard explains. Rather than understanding, his expression shows only confusion. "Two local heroes? From this..." he starts to look around at the village and then snaps his gaze back to the guard. "Ah, well, clearly the blood of the mighty runs strong in this place!" he raises his voice as he says this last part, doing his best to be heard over the off-tune singing. Then he returns to his previous volume. "I can see why you called us," he asides to the guard. "No! That isn't good enough," Nasrin can be heard shouting. "You can't just sing your hero's praises you have to make sure they know theirs ISN'T worthy!"

Nasrin can be heard slamming on her durm now, building up the intensity of half of the crowd. "Watch. Her father smelt of elderberries and her mother was a hamster!" A beat. "See? Like that. Now you people try! We can even do it in song form."

"Brave Sir Robin ran away. Bravely ran away, away!

When danger reared its ugly head he bravely turned his tail and fled..."

Now Nasrin is singing too. Perfect.

Morgan listens to Nasrin and says "I never been chased out of town, but tonight might be a good day for that."

Shara says, "Why does the other local hero have to be insulted? Why can't they both be honored?" She then shakes her head. "Didn't they both do something great for the town?""

Sylvi scratches her cheek. "I am not even sure what to do here, eventually one side or the other will win right? Unless theres some kind of weird magic effect... is it so bad?"

The guardsman just stares at Nasrin.

"She's not helping," he informs the rest of you. "Can you tell her to stop not helping?" he asks, hopefully, giving them looks.

The two crowds are seperated by the guards, repeating ballads. They appear to be about one hero who drove out a troll for the settling of the villiage, and another who brought down the rains during a drought that would've started everyone. They were contemporary rivals, it would appear, judging from the way the songs reference both of them, but their ballads are indeed in competition as who gets credit for really getting the town going. Their rivalry is embedded. Thjey have names.

Tellven the Troll-Slayer and Sotra the Rain Caller, Favored of Dana!

They appear to be reciting their ballods.

The guardsman looks plaintively at the rest of you.

"As you can see, this is a rather simmering thing."

"Troll-Slayers are clearly better," Nasrin posits. You all now know where to find her, if it happens to help.

Iskandar nods. "Yes, yes that explains much." He looks between the groups. "Where was the last either of your heroes was seen? Perhaps there are some clues to be found," he murmurs to the party, "To settle the issue of whose deeds were greater."

"She's not inciting one side to punch the other one, yet." Lorik says helpfully. "So in a way she is totally helping." Thats Lorik! Looking on the bright side of things. Though he sighs as he continues to listen to his explination and pauses a moment as he just looks at the pair of...singing...crowds.

"...so this isn't some kind of strange magical compulsion?" A sigh. "I suppose that would have made too much sense." A longer pause. "Better question. How do we get it to stop, I mean these people have to get food and rest sometime...and...they don't seem to want to be stopping."

A longer pause.

"Which one was the one honored?" A longer pause. "And did they actually say what they wanted before they went song crazy?"

Sylvi furrows her brow "How are those two even comparable? Both saved the town, theres no kill count to compare or anything! Just celebrate both! Are we sure this is not some crazy magic voodoo stuff? I mean, like really sure?"

"I've been trying," says the Guardsman. HE offers a hand to the others. "We were hoping actual adventurers of the modern sort could ghet them to stop, you know? But... the entire town is wrapped up in this. A lot of them are descendants of the heroes in question, so family pride goes a long way. Typtically, when one gets honored, so does the other to keep everyone pacified, but this time specifically they only honored the Troll Slayer and founder rather than just the priestess, and now all lines of communication have broken down. Husbands against wives, wives against husbands. Families turning on each other over who was better. It's madness."

He turns to look at Sylvi and says to him, sadly, "... I mean, I can't fcheck, but... pride makes people do a lot of dumb things, like assume it's always magic." He grins at him.

Donna swings off her horse, and heaves a slow, deep sigh. "....All right. Let's see what we can do." Striding into the open space created by the guardsmen, she removes one of her gauntlets, puts two fingers into her mouth, and blows a high, piercing whistle.

"ALL OF YOU SHUDDUP FOR FIVE MINUTES!"

GAME: Donna rolls intimidate: (10)+7: 17

GAME: Lorik rolls perception: (20)+10: 30

GAME: Morgan rolls perception: (3)+8: 11

GAME: Lorik rolls intimidate+1: (11)+8+1: 20

GAME: Iskandar rolls intimidate: (10)+8: 18

GAME: Shara rolls intimidate: (11)+3: 14

Sylvi doesn't assist in the intimidation, as much as she would like to talk reason with the crowd. Instead she turns to Shara and Lorik, the two elves. "Hey, can you guys check for weird magic? Are you two any good at it?"

Iskandar straightens up to his full height, puts hands on hips and levels his best scowl on the crowd, first one half, then the other.

Morgan raises her hand "I am a mage I will check for that." she then says a few strange words that makes her eyes glow bright blue.

Donna tries to get their attention as Lorik sweeps his gaze around. Its a narrowed gaze, hard and unbending. Reaching up he pulls his cloak back to reveal the pointed ears and odd skin of a shadow elf. Which...well...that might at least cause a bit of distraction.

Still though he says nothing. Keeping that hard eyed gaze on the crowd.

...in reality he just doesn't like the sun. I mean its bright! He doesn't like that. The singing is fine, but /they/ don't know that.

Morgan shakes her head as she is looking around "No its just a bunch of people that praise people that only did one thing in there life." She then says "Did any one record the history of these two and are there any living members of the heros family?"

"No," admits the guardsman to Morgan., "This was hundreds of years ago. Just family members, really, who can trace back their lineage to them. But really there's been so much intermarriage over the years, pretty much everybody is related to both of them in some way. There's always been a bit of a competition between people who feel closer to one or the other, though."

In the meantime, the singing is /briefly/ halted as the adventurers get the townsfolks at tention. They're all looking at you now. Sternly. Unhappy.

Shara says, "Now that we have your attention.......at least go and get some rest, so we can research this and see what we can do about honoring BOTH adventurers, instead of just one. Because both are worthy to be remembered in song.....""

"An' if you can't rest, then at least get something to drink," Donna says, her own glare a fierce one. "You lot'll scream yourselves mute, you keep up."

Shara says, "And then no one will remember the troll slayer or the one who brought the rain...."

Lorik clears his throat. "Good people! Pardon the inturruption!" he begins cheerfully. "I know both heroes are important to you, but this isn't the way to go about honoring them! They saved your town, all of it. And they wouldn't want to see the town so at odds with itself!"

Again a slight smile.

"We understand its upsetting, but why don't you go home and get some rest. We..." He gestures to the rest of things. "...can talk to a few of you to get this sorted out so everyone can rest easy again!"

Its a reasonable suggestion, and Lorik even points out a few people from both sides to come forwards. Encouraging them to come talk like sensible folk do so things can get back to normal.

Or as normal as they can get around here.

A smirk towards Shara and Donna and a nod to go along with their words. "Yes, take a break. Rest. Drink. Let us get this sorted out, yes?"

GAME: Lorik rolls diplomacy: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)

GAME: Shara rolls diplomacy: (18)+3: 21

GAME: Donna rolls diplomacy: (19)+4: 23

Lorik's works are perfectly resonable. They are well thought out. Well spoken. He obviously put some time into thinking about them.

...and then he sees all the blank looks from the audiance.

Annd he turns a slightly different shade of blue-black.

And puts his face in his hands.

"I did it again didn't I?"

Morgan looks to Lorik "sandy beagle blah blrgl beagle blrgl blah blrgl bleh" <unknown>

"...what, the hoity toity elf man-- "Are you sure itn't a lady?" someone interjects, "...thinks they're too good to speak trade like the REST of us?"

Well. One thing's true: they're not fighting each other for the moment. Instead, they're tossing insults and jibes at Lorik becasue Elf.

Not just an elf. A shadow elf.

"Who the hell sends a Mul to do a job like this?"

Some fruit is flying his way. Because OF COURSE they have fruit. The crowd is now incensed that a Mul is lecturing them.

... at least they're not singing for the moment?

Donna stares at Lorik for a moment.... then closes her eyes, sighs a bit, and turns to address the crowd. "...So for any of you understand elf-talk, that was a good speech. Heard a lot worse, trust me... for those of you that don't--" Aaaaand the fruit starts flying. Which brings a special light to DOnna's eyes... seriously *actual* light, a pale-blue flicker that crawls up one side of her face, blinks in her eyes, and fades. "Oh *hells* no," she snarls, putting herself in front of the Mul, well aware the spattering she stands to take, and fills her lungs.

"THE NEXT ONE OF YOU THROWS SOMETHING BETTER *LIKE* WHAT HITS ME BECAUSE *I WILL MAKE YOU EAT IT!*"

GAME: Donna rolls intimidate: (16)+7: 23

GAME: Nasrin rolls Perform/Percussion+1: (11)+6+1: 18

"Neither do they!" Lorik replies towards Morgan with a slightly unhinged laugh. "This always happens when I get nervous. I don't like crowds much." He admits, and though the jeers and the barbs of the audience fly at him he seems to not pay them much heed. He's heard a lot worse.

At least they stopped singing.

Fruit though is a different matter. He winces though as a tomato sails past him and then...

...well Donna happens. And there is genuine surprise, then gratitude on his face as she shouts down the crowd.

"Thank you." He murmurs towards her before he peeks slowly around her at the roiling mob.

"I'm pretty sure she's serious about that!" A longer pause. "I just asked that you all get some rest, maybe some drinks, and we talk to a few of you so we can work this out is all!"

"Do you think he means to be encouraging?" Nasrin asks of someone standing beside her who proceeds to shrug. She listens to Lorik with the same sort of uncertainty as the rest of the crowd. then they begin to become enraged. "Wait a second!' Nasrin calls, slamming on her drum for emphasis as she starts to shout.

"Did you forget what you are arguing over. Could it be that there is maybe a more important cause here than fighting over the value of the dead? Are you trying to disgrace your heroes?" The Cleric takes over where Donna left off, striding to the front of the crowd now that all attention is on the adventurers. "Is this the extent of their legacy? Bickering and throwing fruit at people for looking different than you do? They'd be sick."

GAME: Nasrin rolls Diplomacy: (5)+3: 8

GAME: Iskandar rolls diplomacy: (16)+7: 23

GAME: Lorik rolls diplomacy: (11)+8: 19

GAME: Shara rolls diplomacy: (6)+3: 9

"If you ask me," Iskandar contributes, softening his glower from earlier to a more measured look, "It would be better to look to your own deeds instead of worshippinf those of your ancestors. How much have you accomplished on your own since then? These heroes may have done great things, but they're not gods."

Morgan watches what is going on "If I was strong enough I would of summoned the spirits of said people so they can give a opion.... wait that would be necromancy and that would be very bad."

Well, it's not a disaster.

Not completely.

The guard winced a bit at the pointing out of a shadow elf, he'd not wanted to say asnything, and they're getting ready to try to hold back the crowd when the words for the others all land, more or less.

They're listening.

A matronly looking woman snorts, loudly, and says, "You outsiders don't get to tell us how to live our lives, let alone what we should spend our time on. These are our ways, not your's. However, you've a point about /one/ thing..."

The others are all looking at her to continue. She waits a moment.

Donna crosses her arms, pausing once to reach up and pick a chunk of tomato out of her hair. One eyebrow rises. "Listening."

Iskandar tries to remember who said what and guess what the elder is going to say next. Judging by his expression he isn't having much luck.

Morgan sits as she wants to hear what the old lady has to say.

Lorik stays behind Donna on this one, though his eyes dart about to try to take in the feeling of the rest of the crowd as they wait on the woman to continue.

Maybe /not/ saying anything right now is the best option. Since the last time he opened his mouth he nearly made everything worse.

"Go on, please."

...ok he can't say /nothing/. But it is at least something nice and polite and in Trade speech.

GAME: Lorik rolls sense motive: (13)+11: 24

"I have an /idea/," says the matron, tapping her chin. "Since the mayor left, we'll need a new mayor." That mayor may have had the right idea.

"...why don't we have a competition?"

There's some silent assen from the others. You've given them food for thought and it's clear that they're goign somewhere with it as a group.

Shara says, "However....." She says as a point at the end. "No matter what happens, we find a way to honor them both.""

Shara takes a deep breath. "Well....if you're going to have a competition, then we shall be the judges. Otherwise you'll just do the same thing as you were before." She then looks to the matronly lady. "And don't tell me you won't....."

".....Competition," Donna repeats, eyebrow climbing higher. Then, she shrugs, and continues to brush fruit off her clothes. "Yeah sure, sounds good. Sounds pretty fair to me, guess we'll be on our way then?"

"A...competition?" Lorik asks as he slowly steps out from behind Donna, now that the 'throwing things' phase of the negotiation is over at least. "I guess you want us to..." Shara speeks up and Lorik nods easily. "...yes that! If you need referees or judges that are impartial. That would make sense!"

Oh good no fighting and no singing.

Much better end here.

"If you don't need us though...yes I guess we can be going...if things are resolved..."

"Yes. A competition. That ginger girl with the drums has the right of at least one thing. A good old competition is the right way to settle this. We're going to knuckle down and come up with an idea. Instead of honoring one, we'll have a game where one or the other gets the dues at the end of it."

She's grinning, "/You'l// be one team, and we'll be teh e rest. Unless you want us to go back to our boasting battle."

Oh no.

"Please," says the guardsman, pleadingly, "...they almost rioted."

At this, Donna's face freezes. Then, she lets out a sigh, scrubbing her forehead with her gauntletted palm. "....Yeah alright."

"Six against --" Iskandar stops and quickly counts the party to confirm. "Six against a village? Yes! We'll give this place some new heroes to argue over!"