DDW: Command Responsibility

[Jim Roberts]

[Feb 5 PM -- The Godcarvers]

> But for now, he had other, rather more pressing matters. He did not
> exactly mind having his physique admired by the Cat Priestess, but he
> felt rather ill at ease being nude when everyone was not similarly
> unclad. And the priestess, like cats everywhere, could detect this
> discomfort, and seemed to be revelling in it. “Ladies, if you will
> excuse me for a moment,” he stated simply, picking up his folded stack
> of clothing. “I shall be back in a moment.”
>
> “Me too!” Tramma agreed, and Lomi similarly nodded.

Not long afterwards, Finfin was back, dressed in an alternate set of his
usual togs. So too was Lomi, wearing a clean set of leggings and top.
Tramma took some more considerable time to reappear, returning wearing
something that had that dishevelled, “oh this is just something I threw
on” look. But from long familiarity in Lomi’s case, and now rather more
intimate experience the bard had shared with the Cat Priestess and the
elven officer, all present knew that it was an act. A subconscious one,
more than likely, but a part of the mystique that Tramma enjoyed; she
always wanted to look her best, and her “random” assortment of
carelessly arranged clothing had been planned right down to the last detail.

Now, the two Wild Women, Jeyshann, and Finfin were artistically draped
on the central pile of cushions and pillows where most of the
spellcasters in this bohemian set – which turned out to be nearly all of
them – spent their mornings. Some in Arcane studies, noses buried in
spellbooks, some in divine prayer, and others in bardic meditation and
musical doodling, all needed to prepare a new set of “spells” for the up
and coming day.

And just now, Finfin needed to begin a new “rest cycle” if he wanted to
squeeze in an extra set of Arcane spells into what was left of the day.
Primarily, these would be for magics useful in Identifying some of the
items they’d recovered that day that were shown to be radiating magic.
Finfin hoped that the other wizards were also preparing Identify spells
as well. Identifying everything would take both time and cooperation.
Or… no cooperation, and a LOT more time.

But that did not mean he had to actually be asleep. Just, resting,
avoiding anything particularly mentally or physically taxing. Which
would, alas, somewhat constrain his “welcome back” greeting for Mithi
when she returned from her field duties later that day, but such was the
life of a mage. Hopefully they would get a chance to make it up to each
other later. Enthusiastically.

Just now, though, he could simply relax and listen as the three ladies
present discussed the past day. And even contribute, some, as long as
the discussion did not get TOO intense.

“That Waterworks was a mess,” Lomi lamented. “Part, maybe a LARGE part
of me would be thrilled if I never saw that place again.”

“It was gruesome,” her pal Tramma agreed. “But there might be a problem
with the Foreman if the same crew didn’t show up tomorrow. I think this
is some sortof a test for him, wanting to be sure that we’re willing to
put our OWN necks on the line, as well as his own people. And I think
part of that was to see if we’d be willing to face an unprepared, ‘come
as you are’ mission to help his kind out. Today, AND tomorrow.”

Jeyshann fairly bristled at the idea. “If that damned Foreman thinks I’m
going to stick my neck in that awful sewer again, he’s got another think
coming. I prepared nearly everything today to be able to help a
diplomatic summit. And what happens? I of all people get stuck in the
mud, engaging in fisticuffs with BUGs!”

Finfin nodded. “To be sure, had I known today would be a combat mission,
I would have prepared an entirely different spell load. Not to mention,
an entirely different crew selection.” He then had the good graces to
look embarrassed by the admission.

Lomi, however, chuckled. “By which you mean, Cap’n, that someone like ME
had no business being in the same fight as YOU, the Abbot, or the
Galdis.” Finfin looked pained, but could not deny the truth behind the
observation.

However, Lomi merely leaned forward to pat him on the knee before
continuing, “Heck, I know that. I’m not even sure I should be carrying
you guys’ coats, let alone on the same battlefield as a spear carrier.”

“But you did fine, Legs,” Tramma interjected.

Finfin had to agree. “Everyone did quite well,” he observed. “Yourself
included.”

Lomi nodded her thanks, and gave a halfway bashful grin. “I shouldn’t
say this…”

“But we want to you, anyways!” Tramma encouraged.

Some might have been distracted by the interruption, but not those who
had been around the bard for long. “But as messy as it was,” the scout
continued, “I… kinda enjoyed it.”

Jeyshann sniffed. “That is merely the adrenaline talking.” After a
moment, she unbent enough to give the younger scout a small smile of her
own. “But there is no denying that parts of it WERE fun. In a sordid,
messy way. And as much as I am annoyed at the Foreman, I would hate to
do as I am sure he EXPECTS me to and refuse to show up tomorrow. We cats
cannot abide being predictable.”

Lomi nodded. “Yeah, I guess that’s it. Parts of it WERE fun, and I like
being able to prove to myself that when push comes to shove, I can rise
to the challenge.” She grinned, and added, “And that IS a nice quiver!
No more watching out for getting caught in low branches sneaking around
with a bow and a spear over my back! And my share of the cash is really
gonna help my family, too, when they build an actual homestead this
spring. My part of the whole Ice Station loot helped, and this is gonna
help some more.”

Her smile faded as she added, “So I guess what it comes down to, Cap’n,
is that while I’m not at all clear in my head that I should be there
tomorrow… if you want me to be, well, I’ll be there.”

“It is not really my call to make,” the elven officer gently reminded
the scout. “Technically, I am not in command, and the Abbot is.”

“Oh, Kitty Litter,” Jeyshann swore, using a curse that at least some of
those present found somewhat obscure. “You… men. You were in command in
a lot of the ways that really counted.”

This, Finfin could not entirely deny. “We should discuss this with
everyone when we reconvene for magic item Identification tonight. But I
certainly have no objection to you being with us. Concerns, yes, no
doubt the same ones that you yourself have. But knowing the risks, if
you are genuinely willing, I for one will not stand in your way.” He
glanced over at the curtain line, vaguely in the direction of the rest
of the camp. “Others, however, might.”

“Let them try,” Jeyshann seethed.

Now, it was Finfin’s turn to look uncomfortable. “For tomorrow,” he
mused, “I really OUGHT to let the Abbot take a more direct hand in the
tactical leadership. He does need to exercise that important aspect of
Command.”

Jeyshann sniffed at the notion, but did not bother to object further.
Instead, Lomi turned to her old pal and asked, “How about you, Songbird?”

Tramma blinked, clearly having been a bit distracted. “Sorry, Legs, I
was miles away. Tomorrow, me?” She pondered the question for a moment,
and then nodded. “Yeah, like you, I’m not sure I should be there.”

She chuckled, and added for Jeyshann’s benefit, “There’s a dear knight
back home who manfully listened to me winge about this very topic, and
he convinced me that everyone has skills and abilities to contribute.
And me as well.”

“Your Bardic Inspiration was helpful more times than I can count,”
Finfin attested, and Lomi nodded her fervent agreement.

“And…” the bard continued, rather more thoughtfully, “it also comes back
to what I told Fin earlier today, with all of those things that somehow
showed up exactly tailored… for US. It really does make me think that we
were meant to be there.” She gave a cute little shrug, and concluded,
“So, yeah, Fin. I’m not exactly eager to go diving back into the mud and
blood… but I’ll be there, if you call.”

“I shall certainly keep that in mind when we discuss our team membership
later tonight,” the elf promised.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in more chit chat and rest, with
Lomi tending to the fletchings of her arrows, while Tramma cared for a
couple of her instruments. Even Finfin was giving his Lizard Tongue
decorated arming sword a thorough clean and polish. It had seen more
blood today than it had in his past many months, or more. The dwarven
steel, combined with its enchantment, made it extremely resistant to
wear… but it still required maintenance. And any warrior worth his or
her blade knew the importance of keeping one’s gear in top condition.

It was this scene of domestic tranquillity that Mithi and the exuberant
Pussycats joined in. All were excited to see each other, and a moment
later, all were cat-piled onto the stack of cushions and pillows, Mithi
winding up on Finfin’s lap.

“You smell noice!” the apprentice mage said appreciatively. “And ‘ere
Oi’m gettin’ ya all dusty an’ covered in dirt again.” A warm smile
showed that Finfin did not mind in the least.

Nearby, Lomi chuckled. “Good thing you weren’t here earlier, when the
Cap’n was covered in gore.”

“None of it mine,” the elf added hastily.

This, of course, led to the sharing of the tale of The Waterworks, Day
One. Tramma, of course, was by far the best storyteller, and she had her
audience on the edge of their proverbial seats… if they had been sitting
on any.

“Cor!” Mithi exclaimed at the tale’s conclusion. “And yer goin’ back
there tomorrow ta do it all again?”

“We are,” Finfin agreed.

“Wish Oi could comes with ya,” the apprentice mage lamented. “Sounds
like there wuz all SORTS ov interestin’ spell components.”

“Well, we perhaps could,” the elf began, but the apprentice mage shook
her head to interrupt.

“Sounds like that Foreman creep is runnin’ a test uv sorts, an’ Oi don’t
wanna muck it up,” Mithi gently objected. “An’ anyways, we gotta keeps
at least ONE Boom Mage ‘andy.”

Josie, by now, was almost jumping in place with her eagerness to tell
their story. And it was quite a tale. Nothing nearly as deadly, or gory,
as what the Away Team had experienced in the Waterworks, but it had been
diverting enough. And a well placed Fireball of Mithi’s had indeed
encouraged an SJE reconnaissance team to decide a retreat back home was
in order.

At the tale’s end, the Josie declared, “But now, Fin, you rest. I know
what it means when you book nerds need to squeeze in an extra spell
cycle. We’ll make sure you’re not disturbed.”

Val chuckled, and added, “You or Mithi. I happen to know there are some
pretty sharp limits on what you can get up to, but cuddling with your
girlfriend should be just fine.” Both wizards dutifully thanked their
assembled company, and spent the next several hours simply relaxing in
each other’s company.