Event: June 1312

[northcliffpass]

WHO: the town of Northcliff Pass and their new friends
WHAT: the Shepherds have returned
WHEN: early June
WHERE: the town square
NOTES: oh this gonna get real gnarly yall

The month has been quiet, cheerful even, with the snow melting away in its entirety and giving way to the beautiful sunny weather with which Northcliff Pass is blessed this time of year. It will last a few months like this: high-70’s, a light breeze, flowers blooming and birds singing, until it’s time for winter to reclaim the mountain again. But in the meantime, all is bucolic.

It’s a pity a damper is thrown onto it when, one evening, the two Shepherds return from the pass. They’d been gone long enough for everyone to more or less put them out of mind-- people do come and go, after all-- but when they come back they have a third traveler, and he looks rather worse for wear.

The Watch bell is rung, and all townspeople are summoned to gather in the fountain square. The Shepherds stand in front of the town hall with their shivering charge between them, waiting stoically for the townsfolk to gather.

Comments

[infinitewatch]

When Detlef tries to speak, Lance gives him a little shake: not now, you idiot. He waits until they're inside the guardhouse, where he slams the door and looks like he's about to have another heart attack.

"Stop," he whispers, dead serious, "stop it. Shut your mouth." As harsh as the words are, the glint in his eyes is one of fear not anger. "Drawing their attention is how you-- you guarantee that happens. Do you want an inquest here? Because that's how you get one."

He's standing with his back to the door, hands shaking slightly as they hold it closed. "If-- if they ask after you, we're going to have to deal with it."

[stableman]

Ashamed, he looks down.

"I don't want an inquest," he says quietly. "I'm sorry. I'm..." Scared, tired, tired of seeing people put to death and standing by helplessly. Tired of being scared, too.

"I didn't, I didn't think. If they ask after me..." He doesn't know what to say there. Getting more people in trouble was the last thing he wanted, but he doesn't want to face them alone. "I could claim drunkenness?"

[infinitewatch]

Listening closely, Lance seems to relax as Detlef caves, a bit of color returning to his pale face. To the stablehand's suggestion, he gives a small nod.

"I can... if you want to sit in there, I'll let you out when it's all over," he murmurs, gesturing toward one of the cells. Really the only difference between them and the rest of the room is the bars separating them, but the bench has a blanket on it and there are definitely worse places to bide one's time.
Either way, it seems to be optional.

"I don't... I don't think you should go back out."

[stableman]

The cell's a little terrifying. Last time someone knew about what he could and did do, he'd run. Now the person who knows he indulges in the Vice is gesturing to a place with bars but Lance hadn't told anyone. He's even protecting Detlef a little some, so he swallows and nods.

"I shouldn't." His voice is quiet. "He's going to die, but... he was going to from the moment he was taken from his village. That's their power. He doesn't even have to be..." Detlef trails off and waves a hand, not saying the word.

[infinitewatch]

As Detlef persists, Lance simply shakes his head. He doesn't want to hear it: in fact, the more he hears, the more of a liability they both are, and now is not the time.
He guides Detlef to the cell and opens the door, but lets the stablehand go in of his own accord, and when he closes it again, he doesn't lock it: it's for appearances, and there's no harm in Detlef leaving, as long as he doesn't make another scene.

As the Shepherd's voice picks up in fervor outside, Lance's eyes go distant, and he listens.

[stableman]

He hears the plea and closes his eyes, bending forward to rest his forehead in his hands. There it is, isn't it. How can anyone support this, or feel safe like this? Maybe it's just that they lie to themselves and think that as long as they behave, they'll be fine. And maybe it's a little true. Keep your head far enough down and you won't be a threat.

But he's getting really tired of trying to not be a threat.

[infinitewatch]

Ashen-faced, Lance hears the killing blow, and lowers his head. Then, looking to Detlef, he sighs through his nose.

"I'll be back shortly," he murmurs, and turns to go back out and make his presence known.

[stableman]

"Of course," he says quietly. There's no order to stay, it's probably fine if he leaves too, but Detlef's just gonna linger here for a while and try to think and not think at the same time. He's getting fairly... not good at it, but proficient, at least.