Well, counting Veekie's slightly early vote, we have 5 votes, so the timer should start. However, out of fairness to those who voted for an ordeal, I'll wait to start the timer until they've clarified a little.
I'm thinking test his combat skills with a hunt(a duel would be too easy for one or another to kill each other).
 
Well, it looks like it's time to continue the questioning. In retrospect, I should have added this to the update I've made for questions, but it's been a weird day and I already want to rewrite the hell out of the last two updates, so let's keep on moving.

Ugh, the wonders of coming out of a multi-month long manic state and looking at everything you've done. Then you can notice the dive in quality. Well, something for the summer at least.
 
Winter's Supposed Test (3-4-3 Event)
Did this Human think you were an idiot, or were the Winter Warriors so drained this was their best idea? Sending a Human to talk with people who hate his kind right after another tribe burned down the forest trying to report your location? Either these warriors were far more desperate than you thought, someone was throwing fruits before Boarbatusks or this really was a trap.

"Husband." You said, keeping your eyes on Bor, watching him as blood trickled from the cut on his brow, ignored in favor of staring at you. "Do you see anything at the tree line?"

There was a short pause, and you heard a shrug. "Nothing which I can see." Ikarus said almost dismissively. You were sure it was an act, and he was as worried of all this as you were. "It does seem like-"

"A trap. I got that." You spoke curtly. A little touch to show he still wasn't in your good graces again. "Keep looking and tell me if you see anything." You reached out, grasping the rounded spike of the wall as you considered the Human's words. Perhaps if you tried to apply thought to his words, you could find a hidden meaning within.

A few heartbeats later, you concluded you needed more. This was strange to the point of senselessness, and Bor had explaining to do. "Bor, are your people fools?" You shouted, fully aware of your tribemen's eyes on you. Even ten paces away, you could see the anger your statement caused Bor, though it was suppressed in an instant. "I know your tribe numbered one score after the Tiers left. You wouldn't be here unless some Faunus were, so why did they not send them and not the natural enemy of my tribe?"

Before Bor could answer, you felt a tap on your shoulder and Ikarus' whisper in your ear. "There, over his right shoulder, just past the tree line. I count one, perhaps two figures, though I can't be sure." He paused, and you were sure he was focusing on the distant figures. "They're watching."


Just as Ikarus spoke before you could give voice to a question, you received an answer for an older question. "The Gathering of Winter Warriors are not fools, Champion of the Schnee!" Bor shouted, giving rise to an angry muttering amongst your people. "I was sent by my Champion to test the righteousness of the Schnee." ('Another lie.' You noted.) "I have come alone with empty hands, and if allowed sanctuary, I will bring my kin in service..."

You had already turned your mind away from Bor's clearly prepared speech as he got to speed. The man was a terrible liar, and he was relying on false truths far too much. In the span of a short conversation, you counted no less than three lies, a sin for anyone trying to prove their good intentions.

Part of you wanted to be compassionate, after all an Aura'ed Warrior was always a powerful shield raised against your enemies. Bor would double the number of Awakened Auras in the tribe overnight, and if his promise to bring more of his tribe was truthful, you would have a strong shield indeed. However, the lies forced your compassion back into hiding. His words screamed danger, and your hand rested upon the trigger-bar on the top of the crossbow.

Your people screamed for his blood, and with the crossbow it would be easy to kill Bor. His Aura was depleted, broken for a time, and if you acted swiftly, there would be no doubt of his death. Your people would be happy at the death of a Human, and you would be skipping over a trap. Unless an attack by the Champion of the Schnees was his goal, perhaps to signal the figures hiding behind him. Were there nineteen other Aura'ed Warriors hiding in the forest, waiting for an attempted killing blow against one of their own in some strange attempt to raid?

You weren't sure, however you knew this situation would not change in your favor if you let him prattle on. A decision needed to be made, and soon, else your people would find more stones to throw.

Opportunity Interrupt
Bor's speech is obviously prepared, and his poor lying skills have placed doubt on his intentions. In order to get to the truth, perhaps you need to let him know clearly just how deep of a read you have on him. Reveal Bor's Deception?
[] Yes
[] Yes, and... [Write-In]
[] No, but... [Write-In]
[] No

If No is chosen, then:
[] Write-In
 
Depending on the vote, the next update can either be the last of the event, or a step or two away from the penultimate. Either way, this event went on for longer than I planned it would, but hopefully you all have been enjoying this lightning round of updates. As usual, I write as stress relief, and as the semester comes to a close and finals approach, there's always a good reason to write. Oh well, it's the same old song and dance which I've repeated for five years, doing it a few more times won't hurt.
 
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[X] No, but... [Write-In]
-[X] Ask him what his friends in the tree line are here for.

Let him dig deeper

[X] No, but... [Write-In]
-[X] Ask him what his friends in the tree line are here for.

Well, this is the largest part of his deception. He did say he was alone, and while Colubra doesn't know if the figures are yet another party intent on ruining her day, it does damage Bor's tenuous position with the tribe. Then again, it's for an entirely different aim, which is part of the fun of the Opportunity system.


Regardless, this will be the last update where questions can be asked before the tribe forces a decision. They've been forced into silence up until now, but either Colubra decides, or the Warriors won't be able to hold them back any more. I will say this: forcing the tribe to take care of this, or worse, allow Bor, a Human, to leave the clearing alive in front of the entire tribe, would be somewhere between political suicide and suicide by mob. But, in any case, the tribe will be getting something out of this event.
 
Well, damn. Alright everyone, how about this:

[X] Yes, and...
-[X] Call out two the two figures in the treeline, order them to come out.
 
[X] Yes, and...
-[X] Call out two the two figures in the treeline, order them to come out.

*edit*

And thanks for furthering the conversation. Honestly forgot to come back and vote.
 
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[X] Yes, and...
-[X] Call out two the two figures in the treeline, order them to come out.
 
I say a few words and the bandwagon completely changes direction. Usually there has to be a national debate for that to happen.

I'll keep this open until the evening, and then I'll be putting the update floodgate up as the last week of the semester happens.
 
The vote is dead, long live the vote!

Well, expect a delay in this penultimate event update, as today is the last regular week of classes for the semester. Yep, no matter what I do, I keep crawling back to the post-secondary education system.
 
I would like to apologize for the delay, as the end of the term has been rather chaotic. Regardless, the penultimate post of this event is in front of me. However, given the recent fall in quality, I'd like to be sure I'm actually giving my best.

In that regard, I'm putting out a call for proof readers. If you wish to help me out, simply get in contact with me and I will send the post. If you want to see it a bit early, I will also do so. All I ask in return is for your honest opinions and criticisms.
 
Breaking The Ice (Turn 3 Event 3-4-4)
You, Colubra, Champion of the Schnee Tribe and nominal Priestess of the Mother Goddess, had gotten sick of Bor's lies. The human had lied to you from the first moments he spoke to you. How, given his constant lies, could you trust his claims of sanctuary to be genuine?

While Bor was dedicated enough to withstand rocks even without his Aura, you were going to enjoy tearing off the cloak of lies he wove on himself.

You turned away from Bor, fixing your gaze onto the point Ikarus presented. Sure enough, you could see two figures, one much smaller than the other, hiding in the shadow of a burnt tree just beyond the clearing. "You two!" You shouted with all your might, barely noticing the look of horror dawning on Bor's face. "Come out from those trees now or I will hunt you down like wild game!"

The answer came forcefully and far closer than you expected. "No!" You glanced back and saw Bor turned towards the two figures, hand held high to halt any advance. "Stay there!" His words heralded an eruption of shouts and a renewed push by your tribesmen against the Warriors.

Where before your Warriors were held back by duty, you could see the conflict on your Warriors' faces. This was not a matter of trying to protect the tribesmen any longer. This was a war between their duty to keep their friends and family within the wall, and their duty to remove any threat to the tribe. No show of force would give you more time now. This was what you saw dancing along the faces on the wall.

More interesting, however, was the look on Bor's face as he turned back towards you. There was panic, yes, but tempered with a desperate determination. He did not have the face of a warrior whose trap was revealed. He glared at you with the eyes of a bear ready to protect something more precious than his own life. 'Are you going to tell the truth now, Human?' You thought, trying to divine the path forwards, wishing you had a spare moment to consult your coins. You would make do.

You leveled the crossbow directly towards him, hand gripping the firing bar, only a small push away from sending the killing bolt. "I do not enjoy liars, Human!" You roared in equal measure to be heard over the shouts and chants. "Tell the truth now, or I will kill you where you stand and hunt down your comrades like wild game!"

Bor the Bad Lair answered without hesitation, and now without lies. "Twenty two of my tribe were left after the Tiers took all those who were no longer loyal to our bonds. Two left us to wander north into the Burned Lands, while seven and ten joined the Baunerhofs including The Huntsman. I and two others-"

"Names!" You cut in, not noticing the expectant silence which fell over your fellow Faunus. Their attention was split between you and Bor, waiting for the moment the bolt would be loosed and this threat removed.

"Sif and Tan!" Bor roared, "My wife and son! We came here because we are sick of cowering behind walls!" Any pretense of humility was gone, replaced with a raw burn which you saw in the eyes of the zealots on the eve of the raid. "My people have crusaded against the Grimm since the days we were lead by Lady Winter as the killing light fell upon the Burned Lands! Since the day I was old enough to raise a sword, I was shown the ways to end the monsters haunting my son's nightmares!"

The first real gesture you saw from Bor was him shoving a thumb to his chest, his posture changed from a small sycophant to a warrior asserting his right to respect. "I am Bor The Grimm Breaker, Anointed of Winter, and I wish to fight!" With each statement he rapped the thumb against his chest. "I will not cower in comfortable imprisonment like the Baunerhofs! I will not fawn over vapid constructs like the Schloss! I will not revel in my superiority like the Kriegers! I will not devote myself to the past at the cost of the future like the Zuruck Fords! I am a Winter Warrior, and so I shall fight!"

The Winter Warrior pointed at you. "Your tribe loathes me! To you, I am no different than the slavers of the Kriegers or the slave drivers of the Schloss! You are the best chance for my family to survive untainted, standing tall and defiant against the darkness! You are my best chance to keep fighting against the Grimm!"

Bor threw his arms open. "Colubra, Champion of the Schnee Tribe! Accept my wife and child into your tribe! In return, I give you my life to do with as you please! Kill me where I stand! Brand me as a slave and degrade me for the rest of my days! Send me alone against the Grimm! Force the secrets of my faith from me! Treat me with the same cruelty I have seen from the Schloss and Kreig! I will accept all without complaint!"

His voice dropped from a shout as he delivered his final words. These words were not meant for the tribe's ears. Only your's. "All I ask is for my family to be safe and free. I beg for their sanctuary. Nothing more."

Silence reigned once Bor was finished with his speech, though it was soon deposed by a quiet din. Bor's plea had muddled the opinions of the Schnee. Where you before had heard chants of killing, the mutterings you heard were far less certain.

"There are three? Then we kill all three." You heard from a young voice to your right.
"The human sells itself into slavery." You heard from an older voice, a reply to the young voice. "We suffered under the brand and club of humanity. To do the same would be justice."
"It is a threat, just like all others of its kind. We can't allow it to taint our homes."

"Bring them in." An male voice spoke to your left, "Colubra told us there is a way to turn humans away from the Trickster."
"That was only the Tarenti," A female voice responded, "And they did nothing to stop the Schloss scouts from burning down our forest."
"They helped us against the Schloss, and it would have been a full raid without them. Bring them in."

You listened harder, searching for farther statements. "Blood for blood. The Grimm took one from us. We take one from the Grimm." "Idiot, that's only the Schloss." "Have him kill his son, then kill him." "No, have him kill his wife." "If he wants to fight that much, let him kill ten Grimm." "Kill the Schloss." "Kill the Krieger." "Take over the Barunerhofs." "Make it repent." "Make it convert."

Behind and to your right, Elder Natalius tapped his cane as he considered, the rare panic you had seen earlier banished. "No doubt this 'Bor' knows how to awaken Auras. If we could harness such a force for our Warriors..." He rapped the cane once more on the timbers. "Colubra. 'Bor' shall reside outside the walls, his family a hostage until all our Warriors' Auras have been awakened and we know his secrets. Then we shall dispose of them."

"You have no idea just how big of a gift was just thrown at our feet." Ikarus mocked, behind and to your left. "Look at the warrior. Any tribe would take him in and he'd distinguish himself immediately. Everyone values a good warrior, and we can use that. Slip him into a tribe, and we'll be able to kill leaders whenever we want. If the warrior's kine and kid are likewise as useful, then we could cripple the other tribes and take over in a matter of months! You would want to get rid of such an important tool?"

You mulled over the words you heard, sparing perhaps a moment too long trying to uncover the meaning of 'kine'. 'Well, something to ask once's he's had enough nights outside.' Shaking your head, you focused on the matter at hand. Bor's speech had silenced your people for the moment, but it would not be for long. No doubt your people would rediscover their fear before half a shorthour passed. Then they would charge in force, no longer held back by your Warriors, intent on tearing apart everything they could find outside the walls. If such happened, you knew your Rivals would eat away at your power base. You would be giving them the weapons they would need to bring you down.

There was no more room for questions. You needed to be decisive.

Bor's fate.
[] Shoot.
[] Write-In.

The Bor family's fate.
[] Hunt Them Down.
[] Write-In.
 
One good thing about being in college is the fact you can occasionally find teachers who you can charm into reading your work.

Anyway, feel free to be detailed, since this is the last update before the event resolves and we move onto the rumor mill. You have a lot more control over this than just allowing them sanctuary. One of the many things which can be done is choose which group to fold Bor's family into, if you choose to bring them in. By default, they'd be added in as a minor population.

I will also say this: Cutting down Bor would increase your Popularity with the Major Populations by quite a bit, giving you a "Slayer of Ingwaz's Warrior" buff (+3 to all Popularities) which would secure your position for quite some time. It would, however, cost you someone who is quite good against the Grimm. Oh, and this is also a moment which will feed into the Schnee faith, because dogma is something which is built up and upon.

I want there to be a bit of discussion before I accept any votes (we're good on the vote part, but I'd like to have some discussion to keep the impostor syndrome away), so please work out how you all want this to go down.
 
I want to get the secret of Aura Awakening and then ship him and his family out to the Tarethi as a way of building bridges.
 
Bor's fate.
[X] Awaken the Warrior's auras's, tell us everything he knows, join in our next 4 raids and assist in defence of the camp, should he distinguish himself against those of the Trickster God he and his family will be allowed sanctuary with the Tarenti.

The Bor family's fate.
[X] They will be held hostage in the camp until Bor has fulfilled his obligations, should he fail or die they will be thrown out into the wasteland.


The Warriors want aura's, the Elder's want intel and everyone want's to stab the Schloss in the everywhere. Let's do all that and then get them the hell out of here before the fanatics get the chance to gut them.
 
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[X] Cmd. Frost

Pretty much what I want too. I'd advise keeping his wife and son with our family though, until his son is old enough to fight for himself, I wouldn't trust the others to not arrange an accident.
 
Well, having learned my lesson of "Actually explain what the hell you're saying, Raiu, otherwise you'll make the votes do an about face when you try to hint at your interpretation of the vote", I'll keep my hands off this discussion unless there are any direct questions.

That being said, the bandwagon is already starting and I haven't even started accepting votes yet. Well, I'll keep the vote offline until the morning just in case someone with another opinion makes their case. (Man, having a contrarian would be good, and while I would usually fill that gap, that's not my place as the QM. Especially not since I got burned by suddenly switching the vote completely.)

In the mean time, I'll get a banked Omake which I had promised CWR done, and hopefully by then I'll have the gumption to finish the next TTR update. =.= Why it takes me so long to do an update for that quest I'll never know.
 
(Man, having a contrarian would be good, and while I would usually fill that gap, that's not my place as the QM. Especially not since I got burned by suddenly switching the vote completely.)

^_^
<_<
>_>
0_0

Oi, my plan is fucking stupid! Make your own you pathetic sheeple!!
 
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