(After the ax has been recovered and it is clear that no one in the group is going to use it.. and after Alexis boldly claims there is a ‘right way’ to use items of power)
There is a moment of lull, before embarking on the day. Ethelred takes the lull to broach a subject that has been on his mind.
“When we left the Lost City we were accomplished adventurers, plunders of relics. In Sutheron we learned of this other group that also hunts treasures; artifacts of the past. Then at the Grayfax estate we saw an item of true power, gems of great worth. And we handed them over, for nothing but the deed itself.
“And that brings me to this ax. Won at much cost and with a bit of cunning and good planning. Praise be the plan!
“What fate do we envision with this ax? Will it be sold in Sutheron? Will it be handed over to another vision of a woman? Will it be used for many tasks? Or can it only be reserved for ‘proper’ uses?
“I would lean toward selling, personally. We have lost much on this adventure and much more we need to gain.
“But I fear if we sell this ax, it may end up in our enemies hands. And while we need resupplying, all this hard work can not aid the enemy.
“What say you all?”
Since acquiring the ax, and Alexis holding it since Gustav had no interest, Alexis seems to be gaining some affinity with the ax. The more time he has with the ax, the more he seems compelled to move it around. The more he moves it around, the more the movements seem to be closer to what some might consider natural.
Whenever anyone looks at Alexis while he moves the ax, he looks them in the eye and asks “sorry. Did you want to try your hand at this relic?”
Telosh looks somewhat amused,
“Alexis, you seem to be growing more comfortable with The Axe, would you use it in battle against a Stripe Cheek or the likes of Mavon? Are you not concerned they would take it from you?”
Telosh looks to Ethelred, “I’d rather we sold it than the Dark Hand take it from us, but if one of us can use it effectively…”
Alexis seems taken aback. Makes as if to say something. Rethinks it. Tries again.
“It’s an ax. The edge goes into the bad guys. With as much strength as one can muster. I’ll admit axes have never been weapons I considered flattering to my physique. But this beauty…” Alexis gives a little whistle.
“And I’m not sure why the three of you seem to have some sort of aversion to it, but I’ll happily learn its ways. Apparently I am to unseat Gustav as the axe master here.” Alexis shrugs, but with a happy expression.
Telosh shrugs.
“You seem to be enjoying it, Alexis, and it is a very fine weapon. Please consider this though, when I first left my village, I challenged a stable boy, named… Makney, to a bare knuckle fight.
He challenged me really, he was a couple years younger than me, and mad that had I talked to ‘his’ girl, and she had smiled or something. I had not yet learned how to box, but I though I knew a few tricks. My father taught me how to hit the vulnerable spots, and I had already figured out how to distract and mislead my sparring opponents, and it had worked against kossen and the witch.
Turns out he was a trained boxer, he was just getting started, but the training made all the difference. He was easily able to anticipate my punches, and get in one his own before I could connect, even when I did successfully feint, he knew how to take a punch, and truly hit hard when he connected. He beat me soundly.”
Telosh pauses, and takes a breath.
“Would you consider a thong to at least secure it to your arm? I really think it would be easier for Mavon or a Stripe Cheek to take that from you than you realize.”
“You are telling this to the person here who has learned to take people’s weapons.” Alexis says a little disbelieving and tapping the whip at his side.
“If safety was my objective I would be in Sutheron relaxing with some exotic tea and selling my exploits to some storyteller, singer, poet, what-have-you.”
“This is a dwarven weapon. There is a very real chance I might have to surrender it in the name of diplomacy if we ever encounter some actual dwarves. So it goes. In the meantime: glory and treasure!”
“Glory and Treasure!”
Telosh responds.
“If you want to spar, I’m happy to dance with you Alexis, I wouldn’t mind getting better at taking my opponents weapons…”
(says to Alexis) “I can offering some advice on how to get more comfortable with the ax. I have found swinging this sword at the underbrush and brambles has really helped. My grip strength has improved as well as my follow through. I have really gained a understanding for how the sword is balanced and can now gauge how easily it will hack through a branch.”
Alexis replies with a cold tone “thank you for sharing your… thoughts on this subject.”
(said to telosh) “Keeping the sword would seem like the surest way to keep it from our enemy. This mean we need to find some more treasure. If only the earthquake has open some of those tombs…”
Telosh chucles as Ethelred speaks of using ancient artifacts to clear brush, and turns quiet as Ethelred turns to him.
“Yes Ethelred, keeping something is indeed keeping something, until someone takes it from you. Nevertheless, your concern about what happens to items after we sell them is well taken. To be clear, my concern is that if we are overwhelmed by Skellor’s crew, they will take the axe from us, especially if we let our recent skirmish with go to our head. We need to be better prepared to work as a team if we go looking for the Dark Hand, especially if we are openly carrying that Axe.”
Alexis looks quizzically at Telosh “How exactly do you propose we ‘work better as a team’? We, as a team cleared the stench lizards from these caves. We retrieved the Eyes and turned them over. We brought the wrath of a god upon ourselves for our heroics. We found the lost citadel of Pulathi and walked away two mules loaded with heritage, stories, and treasure.”
“This is not to say I’m opposed to being even better” Alexis says with a wink.
“Now what exactly did you have in mind?”
“I’m thinking of how we approached Skellor and the Stripe Cheeks recently, or when we first encountered Skellor and his lackey Mavon, especially… being ready for another ambush and having a clear plan would be good. How to stick together and not let Skellor or one in his same position get away… How we can all help to make sure you don’t get the Axe taken from you…”
“These are the thoughts that are on my mind. Your whip for example, is a good tool, in your hands at least, for relieving our enemies of their weapons, but against Mavon, he’s a skilled grappler as we saw, so perhaps the axe is better, but perhaps he would simply grab it and wrest if from you? We can’t plan for everything, but we can try to bolster our strengths and minimize our weaknesses…”
Telosh looks to Gustav and Ethelred to see if his thoughts make any sense to them, before looking back to Alexis.