"So, what was being said during the meeting after lunch? I admit I fell asleep..." I prodded Don, thinking correctly he's probably the most enthusiastic and remembered the most.
He slapped my prodding finger away, "Argh stop that! It tickles! Anyway I can't believe you would fall asleep with Bors talking. He's the coolest warrior ever and I can only hope to be half as good at fighting as he is...
Let me see, after lunch, he already spoke about the sealed artifact yet?"
I nodded. He continued speaking, "Oh yeah that was before lunch! Scarry stuff huh? After that he spoke about..."
"Benton!" Elen, the ever shiny gal interrupted.
"Eh no..." Don corrected her "Before Benton there were others."
Elen shook her head. "But Benton! He's such a poor soul. We have to rescue him!"
"Heh?" Both me and Don gave her wierd looks.
Elen pushed her face towards me until our nose almost touched, then slammed her hands on my shoulders and shook me, "You've got to hear about Benton's plight! He was one of the warriors who got injured in a fight against evil spirits. Being handicapped, he chose to retire to take care of his pregnant wife.
Then a freak accident happened and killed her. They actually accused Brenton of murdering her and that is why he is locked up in the root cellar! It has been years but up till now, he still shouts out his Innocence to anyone that will listen.
He must have been framed by a jealous rival! We have got to rescue him!"
"Er..." Don paused to think about what to say, "Actually, even Bors admitted that a lot of experienced warriors tend to be mentally unstable. I'm guessing they must have been contaminated by whatever they fight?"
Eh... Warriors here tend to take the prisoner pathway no? What's their sequence 8 again???
"NOOOO!" Elen's shriek deafened us that I could heat tiny bell sounds for a while. "He's innocent! How could someone who retires to take care of their pregnant wife do such a horrendous deed?"
I raised a finger, "I mean, that's why we are always told that being a beyonder is basically considered as a bunch of miserable wretches that are constantly fighting against threats and madness. The risks are real you know?"
"No! Being a beyonder is being a protector of the world, summoning rainbows to banish evil and rain to heal injuries!" Elen proudly proclaimed.
Don and I looked at one another.
Oh yeah. I remember why she is not offered a pathway potion. How the heck does someone have such a happy fairytale obsessed mental state...
Deciding that the conversation would not lead to any useful news, I decided to stop our gathering and go back to rest.
The next morning, I once again entered the village hall and sat in my spot. The meeting started a lot quicker this time, as the overall mood seemed to be much more somber than yesterday.
Wew. Who died? Why is everyone so emo?
The board statured woman, one of those representing the 'mundane' group, clapped and began the meeting just like yesterday. "Good Morning everyone. I hope you all have enough time last night to think and come up with possible solutions to our conondrum.
The representatives will first voice out our proposals, and once we are done, we will also accept any additional opinions from all participants. We'll begin from Bors, then go towards the right.
Bors, please begin."
The warrior representative stood up. "Our proposal is that we go without a warden until an experienced Listener exists. To lessen the likelihood of a prison break or riot, a system of tiers should be set up whereby those with lower risk of losing control or antagonize us have the same rights.
Then a lower tier exist for the weaker problems. Their hands and feet will be tied up, they will have less rations to weaken them further and they will not be allowed to socialize except with their room mates.
The final tiers are for the real dangerous individuals. Solitary confinement. Constricted movement. Much lower rations. And harsher punishments for undesirable actions.
Once a warden has been found, the system will slowly be removed and we go back to what we are used to.
Also, for warriors, there will be less expeditions and in exchange, patrols will be increased, both in the group size and frequency.
That is all."
Bors sat down and the merchant representative stood up. "We agree with Bor's proposal and would like to add that medicine for prisoners should be restricted, with the surplus being prioritized for our brave warriors.
Also, have a trade expedition started once again, this time in search of weapons. The gunpowder based armaments we have come across are quite powerful and can be used even against beyonders. It's time we equalize the fighting abilities in this island and perhaps create a milita of sorts. With non-beyonders. To assist with less dangerous situations and act as additional patrols."
Bors raised his hand, and spoke up, "Non-beyonders are succeptible to mind control and possession. Equipping them with beyonder killing armaments would be risky."
The tall trader nodded, "We're still in the initial phase of ideas. The final solution would probably be a mix of our suggestions. I'm finished with the merchants' solution, but I'd ask for uninterrupted listening to the others solution."
Bors nodded, "Of course, forgive me. It's been a while since our last village meeting."
The next to speak up was Gram, "Me, Merda and Ponti feel that the warden position should be immediately filled. But it would be a temporary position. Just assign extra guards and checks in case he or she loses control. When an experienced Listener is ready, then another succesion event could be held. That is all."
Rosa finally stood up, and her words were met with murmurs from the crowd. "The healers opinion is that the more dangerous prisoners are executed immediately. Therefore, even with a lack of Prison Warden, the likelihood of a prison break is much diminished. As healers, we have interacted much with those in the root cellars and are of the belief that some are truly irredimable. Death is a mercy to them and safety for us. I do hope you have not forgotten Bors description yesterday. What some of them have done..." She paused to gather herself, as tears streaked down her face, "What some of them have done are truly deserving of death."
Hmmm. This smells more of revenge than searching for a solution.
I'm sure the rest can see this and not accept her solution...