[Episode] Extortion Gone Right

Quest Request:

Kling, Klang, Kling. Rhythmically the hammering on iron echoed through a forgery on Baterilla. Noah leaned against a wall, watching one of the local smiths doing his craft. [dass]From experience Noah could tell that his vis-à-vis was no amateur- the man clearly knew how to run a forgery[cmt]A good way to show this rather than simply saying it would've been adding a couple of small details Noah observed that made him recognize the smith as skilled in his craft.

For example, the way he grips his hammer or the timing of when he works the bellows.

A little bit of layered detail can go a long way towards immersing the reader and adding depth to your characters and scenes.[/cmt][/dass]. Being once again in a familiar place, Noah felt the sudden urge to swing a hammer himself. Kling, Klang, Kling. However, he simply lacked the time to do so. After finally being accepted as a member of the New Revolutionary Army, the young man was sent on his first mission. [plyr=revo]"There is really nothing I can do to change your mind?"[/plyr] Noah should try to convince some of the local craftsmen, farmers, or other inhabitants to support the Revolutionaries. [npc=misc]”Sorry, no can do. I got a family to look after.”[/npc], said the man. Noah guessed the smith was in his late thirties, brown hair, slightly smaller than the revolutionary man, but possessing a body spouting more muscles. While the man probably wished to downplay his nervousness, Noah nonetheless managed to observe some hints. The man feared that this conversation could be heard.

[dass][plyr=revo]"I totally understand where you’re coming from. I’ll better leave now before you get into any unnecessary trouble."[/plyr] Without waiting for an answer, Noah left the workshop. When he stepped through the doorway, Noah thought he heard the sounds of a relieved sigh, but could not really say if that was true. The rhythmic hammering muffled most sounds. [plyr=revo]~I guess those bastards are still as active as they used to be.~[/plyr], the redhead thought. He knew too well what the man was afraid off. He could name them. Or rather, he was told enough stories. The mafia. Noah was sent here in an attempt to utilize an “insider”, as Noah used to spent the first few years of his life on the island. Even though he moved away when Noah was still a child, he still remembered many of the places he had visited up until now. He even recognised some of the inhabitants he had visited so far and while some might not immediately remember who he was, he was still a small child the last time they have met and a grown man now, many remembered who the former boy was as soon as he said his fathers name or told the story surrounding his birth. Noah sighed. [plyr=revo]~Why do they need to remember that story? That’s so embarrassing…~[/plyr] He should slowly come up with a plan.[cmt]The average long paragraph should be no longer than 100-120 words. And many would be even shorter than that - especially if there is a lot of dialogue involved. Any longer and it starts to feel run-on and blocky. There are rarely any reasons to have such long paragraphs.

Blocky text is really hard on the eyes, and it makes my job as a grader especially harder. I strongly encourage you to keep this in mind for future submissions.[/cmt][/dass]

Should Noah make an example of the Revolutionaries’ power? He was convinced that sooner or later he had to face at least some grunts of the mafia. They made sure the usually peaceful island was not as peaceful as it could be. Noah was not naïve enough to believe that he could sabotage their power basis without consequences. But attacking them now to show how they could be defeated? He disliked this idea as well. He had been gone from Baterilla for too long and the information his allies gathered were not really as detailed as they could be. Not to mention how he lacked real support- he was convinced that the criminal families could simply crush him with sheer size. No, he needed to form a plan if he wished to have any form of success in the foreseeable future.

Violence could wait. Noah planned to visit one more smith today, so he thought about given that family a last try. If he was not going to be successful afterwards, he could still decide to try the way of the blade afterwards. [plyr=revo]~But let’s change tactics. I have an idea which might work better.~[/plyr]

WC: 614/5000

[plyr=revo]"Thanks for your order, here you go. Please do visit us again!"[/plyr], said Noah, trying to sound as friendly as possible; a task he is not the best in. While he might not be the best with social contact, he still knew some of the basics when it comes to dealing with customers. Yes, customers. Noah started working for one of the local smiths. The customer inspected the tools the revolutionary worked on, gave a satisfied nod, put some money on the desk, and left thereafter, wasting no words. Since the last time Noah was rejected, he thought about testing his luck at the last forgery left on the island. Or rather, the last one he remembered as well as the ones he learnt about. In fact, a lot of the other workplaces closed down over the years, though nobody seemed willing to talk about the why, at least for now. Noah had an idea why, but tried to keep his curiosity at bay. He could interrogate another time, if need be.

When Noah arrived at the smithy [dass]yesterday[cmt]Try not to use words like "yesterday", "today", "tomorrow", or "now" in your narration when writing in the past tense. It places your narrator at a very specific point in time, which is generally a bad idea. Instead of "yesterday", you can say "the day before" or "the previous day".[/cmt][/dass], he introduced himself as a smith looking for work, not addressing his real intentions. While he was at first inspected septically, the young man somehow managed to earn his right to enter a trial period for a few days. While he might not earn much money, he nevertheless got a place to stay, which he probably preferred anyway. As such, he might have an easier time getting information. But most importantly, he was relieved enough to be accepted as a journeyman carrying a sword around, as such a getup might not inspire the most confidence in strangers around here. But given how the smith Noah worked for could probably best be described as a force of nature he was hard to surprise here.

[npc=misc]”Good work, boy. You’re sure I cannot convince you to work for me?”[/npc], she asked. [npc=misc]”I could use your help. Maybe you could even teach my baby properly! I know I can’t!”[/npc] With that, she laughed and clapped on Noah’s back, after which the redhead had to make sure not to lose his balance. For him, who hardly saw anything of the world yet, she was clearly a sight to behold. Not only was she, named Roberta, the first female smith Noah ever saw, her physique could easily intimidate somebody. Being taller than many men and spouting muscles untypical for a woman, as well as a body full of scars, made her look like she was rather ready to charge head first into battle rather than run a forge. The only typical “feminine” trait Noah could see was her long brown hair, which she tended to wear like a long braid.

After being addressed, the “baby”, named Leon, started to complain. But given how quiet his voice war, his mother’s laughing quickly muffled everything he could say. Noah understood none of it. [plyr=revo]"Oh, I’d love to spend more than just a few days here, but I really want to see other islands as well, Roberta. But promised, I think about it."[/plyr] He smiled, before looking at Leon. [plyr=revo]"Don’t let it get to you, okay? She just wants to see the lion in you."[/plyr], Noah did his best attempt at a smirk, after which the boy blushed and quickly left the room, delving back into the book he was reading. Leon was probably the opposite of his mother in any way imaginable. He was thin, had hardly any muscles, making Noah question if he could even lift a smith’s tools. Leon was a few years younger than Noah, who estimated that the boy was maybe 14 or 15 years of age. In his expressions were barely any emotions and his body language lacked any self-confidence. Noah could really question if the pair was related by blood, but Noah could not be bothered about such trivial details, if not for his red hair. They loved each other, which was the most important part. [plyr=revo]~Maybe my red hair made it easier for me? I wouldn’t be surprised if she sees a potential son in me.~[/plyr], Noah wondered. But those thoughts could wait. He had more work left to do for now.

WC: 699/1314/5000

Noah spent two days working for Roberta without anything meaningful happening. While he could easily forget himself when running the forge, he did not forget the task he originally came here for. [dass]Smithing was something he could still do after a job well done[cmt]Quite a few of your sentences are structured and placed rather awkwardly, which can not only hurt your prose but also muddle the meaning you're trying to get across.[/cmt][/dass]. During his stay at Roberta’s, the redhead tried to casually question her for further information, thereby getting at least some leads. As it seemed, the local mafia families were still as active as they used to be. In addition, as Noah already learnt, they are still ransacking and terrorizing the local population. Or, more accurately, those weak enough who cannot fend for themselves and are easy targets to be picked on. [dass]What he found most interesting, though, was the fact that Roberta did not seem to be bothered by local criminals. They let her and Leon be, for whatever reason[cmt]Rather than simply saying this, you could've added more depth to Roberta and the gangs by mentioning or enacting an actual scene where the criminals actively give Roberta a wide berth and instead harassing someone else. It would also be a good world-building opportunity that would allow you to describe the surrounding businesses some more and perhaps hint at what makes the criminal gangs target them.[/cmt][/dass]. Unfortunately, she did not open any further up yet and as a result refused to name other citizen free of harassment. Was she getting suspicious?

[plyr=revo]~I guess I wasn’t far off picking Roberta. She knows something, I can tell. But, more importantly, she probably sees me as no threat to her or her family.~[/plyr] When Noah arrived, he introduced himself as a smith travelling through the South Blue. He explained the presence of his sword simply as a means to intimidate some shady figures and as an example of his know how, what he could create as a smith. The fact that he did indeed know how to use swords was something he kept to himself, as was the fact that he worked for the Revolutionaries. Noah could imagine that they might not carry the best image here, given how Baterilla was terrorized by criminals and, in the end, Noah’s faction could be seen as such, too, however righteous their cause might be. He was convinced that he first needed to somehow gain the trust of some upstanding citizens before gaining any substantial support.

But what Noah probably found the most interesting was the fact that Roberta talked to him to such an extent to begin with. Whatever the reason might be, Noah was sure of one fact: she did not perceive the redhead to be any meaningful threat. While he doubted that she simply opened up out of the kindness of her heart, not after seeing how protective she was of her son and the potential threat an outsider could be for him, he could not say what here ultimate reasoning was. While Noah could see her being a battle-hardened veteran of some sort, given her appearance and confidence, he was not willing to test this hypothesis spontaneously. This would be something he could still learn whenever the right time would come.

[npc=misc]”Hey, Mr. Sleepyhead, I’m not paying you to be absorbed in dreams!”[/npc], said Roberta, getting Noah back to reality. [npc=misc]”A customer is waiting for you, and you specifically.”[/npc] Noah, who up to now was on break, starting to prepare something to eat, suddenly was alert. Somebody calling for him specifically? He was on the island for three days, was this already enough time to make a name for himself? The redhead subconsciously tensed up, preparing for the worst. When entering and walking through the forge’s shop, he tried to subtly eye his sword, silently cursing himself for letting his guard down. Kanshou leaned against a wall and he would have to walk a suspicious detour if he would like to fetch his weapon to feel less vulnerable.

[plyr=revo]”What can I do for you, mister?”[/plyr], said Noah, upon arriving in front of the new client. He did his best to smile, calming himself that he was not defenceless. He still owned the power of a devil fruit, so he doubted he had anything to fear for now. Thus, he inspected the man in front of him. The customer was a tall man, surpassing Noah, also featuring an imposing physique. [plyr=revo]~Did the local population suddenly grow bigger? First Roberta, now him.~[/plyr], thought Noah. When further inspecting the man, Noah ultimately came to the conclusion that his black hair was the most reassuring feature, making the man look somewhat normal. The fact that a scar was running horizontally over his face made Noah tense up more, though. What did that man want from him?

WC: 718/2032/5000

Noah waited for some form of response, but instead of speaking, the man simply inspected him. While the redhead did not necessarily mind this behaviour, it really did not help him to relax. Upon raising an eyebrow as a gentle reminder that he was waiting for some form of answer, Roberta stepped in to break the silence. [npc=misc]”As you can see, Blake isn’t the most talkative fellow around here.”[/npc] Blake… knowing how to name the stranger somehow relieved Noah. Roberta, meanwhile, moved a bit until she stood next to Blake and leaned on him. The man seemed unfaced.

[npc=misc]”You see, Blake is a returning customer of mine living outside the town. Right now, you cannot tell it, but he is a swordsman, just like you.”[/npc] While speaking, Roberta nodded in the direction of Kanshou. [npc=misc]”However, let’s just say that he prefers his swords to be a size bigger. Or two. Or five. Compared to what you are wielding.”[/npc] She now pointed in a corner of her smithy Noah has yet to take a look at. There he saw a great sword and started to understand her comment about sizes.

What Noah looked at could definitely be described as a great sword. However, one could also say it was a heap of iron in the form of a blade attached to a handle. Its size was massive. When Noah looked at it more closely, he started to doubt how a man can wield such a piece of weaponry. The revolutionary estimated that the sword was roughly as big as he was, making it hard to wield for any human being, not to mention the weight it should have, when looking at the sheer amount of iron put into it. If Blake wished to wield such a sword, he had to be physically strong, to say the least. Or insane.

[npc=misc]”Upon seeing how you arrived here with a sword of your own I knew you could combine two things: swordplay and smithcraft. Blake, meanwhile, would love for somebody who knows something about both to look at his skills when wielding his new weapon, so that they could potentially improve some minor details in the weapon if necessary.”[/npc] Roberta now paused for a moment, walked over to Noah, grabbed the sword and moved it onto a carriage outside her shop. Seeing how she did not seem to be bothered carrying that heap of iron, Noah questioned it anew that she was just a local smith. [npc=misc]”I’d do it myself, but I still got work to do and prefer other weapons myself.”[/npc] This comment did not help.

[plyr=revo]”So, you just want me to see if the blade is balanced? Sure, I can do it. Though I have no experience with… swords… this size.”[/plyr] Upon hearing Noah hesitated to label it a sword Roberta simply laughed, whereas Noah could see a smirk on Blake’s face. Noah grabbed the belongings he deemed necessary for the task ahead, in particular his own blade, before moving in front of Blake, offering his hand for a handshake. [plyr=revo]”The name’s Noah, nice to meet you.”[/plyr] Blake took the hand, but his expression was serious again. A simple [npc=misc]”Blake”[/npc] was all he said. [plyr=revo]~Looks like he’s really somebody who talks much.~[/plyr]

In the time the three adults were chitchatting, Leon sneaked past the trio and started to pet the horse who would be pulling the carriage. Roberta clapped on the back of both men before raising her voice once again. [npc=misc]”The two of you could do me another favour and look after Leon for me. You know how much he enjoys your place, Blake. I still have some work to do I’d rather do alone.”[/npc] Upon hearing these words, Noah simply agreed, not paying too much attention to what exactly she was saying. Usually, Roberta did her work alone. Thus, she should not have any need in sending her son away.

WC: 650/2682/5000

[plyr=revo]”Ready when you are.”[/plyr] Noah packed his few possessions he needed for the task at hand, before watching the movements in the smithy. Leon was unusually cheerful- at least as far as the revolutionary could tell, as he barely knew the boy. He had a small backpack whose inventory Noah did not know placed on the carriage and happily petted the horse which was going to pull the carriage. Meanwhile, Blake chatted with Roberta, though Noah had problems making out what exactly they were talking about, as far as he could tell it sounded like a new order, while both stored some more tools and other equipment Noah could not really make out. [plyr=revo]~Why do I have a feeling that they aren’t simply transporting tools?~[/plyr]

[npc=misc]”Me too.”[/npc], uttered Blake after some more time passed and silence had returned into the workshop. The man placed one of his hands on Leon’s shoulder, which made the boy stop petting the horse. Soon after, Blake helped the boy sit on the one empty place the carriage offered, before Blake turned back to Noah. [npc=misc]”I hope you don’t mind walking, Noah. Only one empty place and the boy rather needs it.”[/npc] Noah thought that he could see an apologetic smile on the man’s face, but as the trip started in the same breath, he had barely any time to take a proper look before Blake started moving. [plyr=revo]”Don’t worry about me, I’m sure I’ll be alright.”[/plyr] Meanwhile, Roberta shouted something which made her son blush.

The first few minutes of the trip were rather quiet. Blake [dass]had a serious expression[cmt]Lots of times when describing something, it's prudent to use metaphors. For example, here, you could've said "Blake was stone-faced".  Using metaphors rather than mundane descriptions keeps your writing fresh and interesting, and allows the reader to visualize a dramatized version of the scene, which is generally a good thing.[/cmt][/dass], said nothing, and stoically guided the horse who did the heavy lifting. Of course, his new [dass]monstrosity[cmt]This is a good example of a common metaphor. You just have to expand the usage some more.[/cmt][/dass] of a weapon was firmly on his back which paired with Noah carrying his own weapon semi-visible made sure a few of the local townspeople stared at the trio. However, Leon did not seem to be bothered, simply humming a cheerful melody. [plyr=revo]”Well, looks like somebody really likes where we are going.”[/plyr], stated Noah. Leon at first looked surprised when the silence was broken, but quickly answered with a giggle. The boy was really happy. [npc=misc]”I sure do and I’m sure you will too.”[/npc] Noah unconsciously raised an eyebrow while he thought about that answer. He felt like there was more to it, but was ultimately unable to put his finger on it. It was not the first cryptic message he had heard today, anyways.

After a while, the group left the city behind them and trespassed a forest. The road was in better shape than Noah would have thought, but if villagers had to travel through here, good upkeep was really nothing too uncommon. As not much else was to be seen right now, Noah took the chance to inspect the goods more closely they were transporting. He found quite a few boxed filled with different vegetables, as well as the tools made from Roberta. Of course, he also saw the items he was not able to name beforehand, but as it was covered in blankets, Noah was still not able to name what they were. [plyr=revo]~Sounds metallic, which kind of leads me to an easy answer…~[/plyr]

For a while, Leon’s humming, the men’s footsteps, as well as the carriage's sounds, were the only things defying the silence, until Blake suddenly looked around, as if he thought that somebody was following them. Unconsciously, Noah tensed up. Was he missing something? [npc=misc]”Ugh, I hate the busyness of the town.”[/npc], Blake said, suddenly raising his voice after a lot of silence until now. [npc=maisc]”Always somebody of them watching over you.”[/npc] Noah felt a sudden urge of relief after hearing the stress in Blake’s words. He guessed both were on the same page. [npc=misc]”But that shouldn’t be too new for you, right? But maybe we should finally get down to business, shouldn’t we?”[/npc] As the words left his mouth, Blake slowed down, until he and the carriage came to a halt. He gave Leon the rein with a quick instruction that Noah could not hear, before the man positioned himself in front of Noah. [plyr=revo]~My, it’s getting interesting.~[/plyr]

WC: 689/3371/5000

Noah involuntarily tensed up, assessing the situation he was in. So far, he did not doubt the intentions of his surroundings, but maybe he actively ran into a trap without realising it? But if that was the case, why act only now? Noah stayed cool, waiting for what was about to happen. While he could see Blake as a potential threat, unless he carried his monstrosity of a weapon as nothing but a cover to create the image of a competent warrior, Noah was sure that he was faster. If not by his own speed, the redhead was convinced that his devil fruit would secure him an escape route. When Noah glanced at Leon, he still found a cheerful boy. [plyr=revo]~Well, I guess this is nothing unusual for him.~[/plyr]

As Noah neither made an attempt to talk nor to flee, simply waiting for a response, Blake ultimately gave in. [npc=misc]”Who sent you?”[/npc], Blake started. [npc=misc]”Whatever your intention might be, you act far too rational for any pirate I heard around here. Not to mention that those usually don’t want to interact with the filth ruling this island.”[/npc] Upon hearing this, Noah started to calm down. Before being given the chance to answer, though, Blake continued. [npc=misc]”A Marine? Probably something new, as I doubt they would suddenly gain a heart for the world's population not part of their precious World Government.”[/npc]

Noah felt increasingly at ease the more he heard, but tried his best to look like he was in control. Based on what he had listened to so far, he was convinced that the two adults could get along. For now, though, Blake made no attempt to say anything new, instead raising an eyebrow of his own to signal that he awaited a response, as well as making sure that he looked as ready as he could be. Noah sighed. [plyr=revo]"I guess seeing you so heated should be nothing surprising, but can I really convince you that I'm on your side with words alone?"[/plyr] Noah paused and raised his hands, signalling that he meant no harm. [plyr=revo]"I guess you have to trust me when I say that I'm neither a pirate nor marine and that my organisation rather wants to help the population here than work with the, let me quote you, 'filth ruling that island'. So, back to our original plan or is now the time we start to smash our heads in?"[/plyr]

Should Noah have said more or be more specific? Maybe, but the redhead ultimately was no fan of spouting his profession, besides working as a smith, to people he was not fully sure he could trust. While Noah looked somewhat relaxed until now, in order to underline his last few words, he placed one of his hands on his sword’s handle and changed his mimic to be more serious. Noah tried to be mentally prepared and awaited his vis-à-vis’ response.

[npc=misc]”You pass… at least for now.”[/npc] Soon after the words left Blake’s mouth, the man started to relax anew. [npc=misc]”If you really plan to work against them, I’m sure we will get along. If not, we can still deal with you later.”[/npc] Getting curious who Blake meant with “we” Noah originally thought about asking, but seeing how calm Blake got and continued his walk, the revolutionary decided not to push him any further. At least not now, especially when he should get his answer very soon.

Shortly after leaving the forest behind, Noah managed to see a small village ahead. Though as the trio approached the settlement, he started to question his first impression. The more he saw, the more he was inclined to instead call it an outpost. While he thought that he could see typical infrastructure he would ascribe to rural villages such as farms with their fields and meadows, the settlement looked rather as if it was planned on a dashboard instead of being growing organically over time.

[npc=misc]”I guess it is time to introduce you to our little haven.”[/npc], Blake started to speak again upon slowly approaching the settlement. [npc=misc]”It might not be much for now, but here you will find a mix of people who are either in pursuit of a quiet life or actively wishing to work against the ruling families.”[/npc] To underline his opinion about the ruling class, Blake was spitting on the ground right next to him. Upon arriving in front of the settlement, Blake helped Leon down from the carriage and the boy soon ran inside the village, talking to youngsters his age. [npc=misc]”So, let me ask you again, are you really looking to help the local population? If so, here might be your best shot, as in most other places on this island the families’ influence is far to intimidating for the average population to trust any outsider.”[/npc]

Noah took a look around and tried to verify his first impression. What he mostly found were the farms he saw already beforehand, but now that he was closer, he could also see some artisans being indulged in their respective crafts. Near the centre, however, Noah managed to see a small place where people were training. It looks like Noah really found a promising place now, thanks to Roberta. [plyr=revo]"Okay, you made me curious about this place. Where do we start?"[/plyr]

WC: 883/4254/5000

The next few hours passed by without Noah really realising it. Before the two adults did any work, Blake decided to show the redhead around while distributing the goods they transported. The different vegetables were given to families, whereas the tools found their home in the hands of different farmers or craftsmen. So far, so normal. However, when the 'mystery' goods were distributed, Noah's hunch from beforehand was affirmed.

The two were standing in front of the practice field Noah saw while being just outside of the settlement. Even though he saw people here practising beforehand, seeing it up close now reassured the redhead that this particular settlement was indeed unusual. While they may not be many people, at least as far Noah could tell, they were adamant in their endeavour. By the time Noah took the scenery in, though, Blake was back in business, shouting a few commands and distributing the weapons he brought with him. While a few men and women eagerly received their weapons, only a few seemed to be really proficient enough not to look completely lost. [plyr=revo]~Is the mafia really not taking them seriously?~[/plyr], Noah wondered. For him, it was rather unusual, based on the stories his parents told him, that opposition was freely tolerated on Baterilla.

[npc=misc]"I hope you don't mind me not completely telling the truth."[/npc], Blake started to speak. Before continuing he quickly pointed at the monstrosity of his weapon. [npc=misc]"Roberta already did what we asked you to do, but we would still love your help here. Even if I have no need for an instructor myself, some of the greenhorn here could use it."[/npc] Now, Blake pointed towards a group of beginners who were really in need of a teacher. Even though Noah had no plan yet how much time he may be allowed to spend here, he still had a task to fulfill. And what better way was there to win support than to win over trust first? [plyr=revo]"Sure, count me in. I have a soft spot for revolutionary spirits."[/plyr]

Upon hearing Noah's last words, a smirk could shortly be seen on Blake's face. Has Noah given his organisation away now? Regardless, he was sure if that would have been of importance, somebody would have asked him ages ago. Without continuing that topic, Blake instead placed one of his hands on Noah's shoulder, thanked him, and said something about now having enough time he could dedicate to other tasks. After a bit more chit-chat, the two parted ways for now.

And so, Noah spent the next few hours doing his best to teach some of the rookies the basics of swordplay. Of course he knew that so little time was not enough in the slightest to cover more than the utmost basics, but nonetheless the redhead hoped to at least teach them something. He wondered if nobody else was around to do some teaching work? Blake might look like he knows how to fend for himself, but he alone could not be enough to do all the instructing, in particular if he hadother work to do. As such, the revolutionary doubted that they would wait for somebody to spontaneously give a hand. Who else already knew how to use a sword and could give a lesson was probably out, too occupied to teach.

As his lesson slowly came to an end, the young man took a moment to conclude via giving a summary. First, he made sure everybody knew how to stand properly, before correcting them how to wield their swords properly. Finally, he showed some basic swings they could practice alone in order to get a better feeling for their weapons. After looking over every student one last time, the lesson ultimately came to an end and the rookies gratefully said their goodbyes. Soon after, Noah was alone on the practice field.

Or so he thought. Before being given the chance to think about what to do next, Noah spotted his fellow redhead. Leon was sitting on a bench nearby, with a certain sparkle in his eyes. Was the boy interested in wielding a sword? Noah immediately got an idea. [plyr=revo]"Care for a round?"[/plyr]

WC: 695/4949/5000

It appeared as if Leon needed a few moments to properly process being addressed. While the boy looked like he found something he's interested in mere seconds ago, being talked to seems to rob him of said curiosity. Now, Noah saw the insecure boy again who was the polar opposite of his mother. Leon stood up, looked around, frantically trying to find an escape route.

Noah, meanwhile, had other plans. If he had the chance to get to know the boy better, he would love to take it. While looking around, the young man found a few wooden practice swords laying around, walked to them, and grabbed one he thought to fit the boy. [plyr=revo]"Here, catch."[/plyr] Without waiting for an answer so that Leon could formulate his complaints, a wooden short sword was on the way to Leon. Apparently neither being able to make an escape in time and being able to properly process the situation, Leon instinctively tried to catch the piece of wood. Even though the boy did succeed in the task, he lacked any form of finesse while doing so. As if the practice sword was a hot potato too hot to carry, he threw the sword from one hand into his other before eventually getting a hold of it.

[plyr=revo]"Good reflexes, first test passed with flying colours!"[/plyr] [dass]Of course Noah knew that he was exaggerating with this comment, but as Leon seemed to lack any form of self-confidence for whatever reason, attempting to give him some would definitely not hurt[cmt]You don't have to narrate every intention that Noah has or declare every train of thought. Some actions just speak for themselves.[/cmt][/dass]. Slowly the boy seemed to calm down, a faint smile creeping on his face, fingers now grabbed tightly around the sword, though his body still lacked any tension in his muscles. Noah labelled getting so far already as a small win.

[plyr=revo]"I've seen you before. You're interested in sword fighting?"[/plyr] Noah tried some small talk while he watched Leon. The younger redhead, meanwhile, swung the sword he was holding a bit in the air, similar to the way some children would do it with sticks- though he was far less enthusiastic about it than they were. [npc=misc]"Yes, but I'm lacking talent. My mother tried instructing me, but eventually gave up."[/npc] Hearing these words made Noah suspicious. He already thought that Roberta knew how to fight, so getting this quasi confirmation calmed his mind. However, the other piece of information made him a bit doubtful. Was she such an impatient teacher? Maybe, but he would have thought that she would at least teach her son some of the few basics he needed so that he could fend for himself, if need be.

[plyr=revo]~Or… she's just so overprotective that she plans to look after him for eternity.~[/plyr] While Noah thought about this, he was sure that he would keep this train of thoughts to himself. Maybe he could get some more out of him? [plyr=revo]"So, are you still interested? Now I'm still free."[/plyr] Noah smiled and started to see the shimmer in Leon’s eyes he recently saw return. So far just faint, but it was definitely there. The only response Noah got and needed was an enthusiastic nodding.

Just like that, Noah was back in the role of an instructor. As done before, he guided Leon through the same exercises as he had done before, but having to look after just one pupil made it immediately easier. Additionally, Noah made sure to stay calm, barely raising his voice if need be. Screaming was the last thing Leon needed. [plyr=revo]"Are you and your mother from here?"[/plyr] Time to get a few questions out of his mind. [npc=misc]"Not… originally."[/npc] What Noah thought was true about Leon was soon made apparent: the boy was really not used to much physical labour. The practice was enough already to wear him out. [npc=misc]"Mom was travelling a lot… selling her blade… but quickly settled down… when she got pregnant."[/npc] Her working as a mercenary sure made sense after Noah remembered some of her scars. [plyr=revo]"So it's just been the two of you?"[/plyr]

Leon stopped his movements. A short [npc=misc]"Yes."[/npc] was all the boy said. Afterwards, he simply handed the sword to Noah. [npc=misc]"Thanks for the lesson, but I still have work to do."[/npc] Before Noah could answer, Leon disappeared. It looked like Noah struck a topic the boy did not feel like talking about. Similarly disappointing, though, was the fact that Leon did seem to have some talent, as he quickly learnt what Noah had shown him. He was sure that Leon could be an adept fighter if he put the effort into it and improved his physique. Why was Roberta hesitant on training him? You never knew when one needed to fend for oneself in this world.

WC: 784/5733/5000

While Noah was tidying up, he was yet again interrupted anew. [npc=misc]"Don't take it personally. Leon never talks about this topic."[/npc] Blake walked over to Noah. How long was he watching? The redhead had been unable to sense his presence until he revealed himself. [npc=misc]"And neither do I. Lets just say even though I know them both for quite a while, neither he nor his mother talk about this subject."[/npc] Even though Noah could see the reasoning behind it, it definitely did not end the curiosity the redhead felt. Rather, it made sure he even wanted to know more.

But thinking about it would probably change nothing. Depending on how much time he was allowed to spend on the island, he might still get a chance someday. He sighed. [plyr=revo]"Well, maybe another time."[/plyr] Now, given the chance to talk to Blake, the redhead might learn some other things. He was still interested in a certain settlement and had a job to fulfil. [npc=misc]"Time for business?"[/npc], Blake asked now, as if he could read Noah's train of thought.

By now, it was already fairly late, the sun was about to set and the two adults were sitting in the local pub. They were sitting as private as such a small establishment allowed for, but it still allowed Noah a good look at the townsfolk coming here. Among those was also Leon, sitting on one of the tables, writing down on a piece of paper. However, the boy seemed to chat from time to time with the people, overall looking more cheerful than what Noah was used to. [npc=misc]"We are still missing a smith around here, so Leon is pretty much always busy taking orders for his mother. While we'd love to have both here, it would waste their potential for now. And somebody has to keep an eye on the city."[/npc] Blake’s explanation answered some more questions. Just as he thought, Roberta was somewhat involved in that settlement here.

[npc=misc]"Regarding what you came here for. While you were busy instructing some of us, I talked to a few of our residents. Let's just say rumours of a red haired revolutionary trying to find support spread rather quickly among our local people."[/npc] For a moment Noah looked caught, trying to withstand Blake’s eye contact. [npc=misc]"So my guess seems right. Better those than some other goody-two-shoes."[/npc] Noah should probably feel offended by this phrasing, but for now, he was happy that the situation remained calm. Neither Blake nor somebody of the other visitors emitted any hostility Noah could sense.

[npc=misc]"For a moment, let's imagine how we would support you. What can you offer in return?"[/npc] The redhead liked the way the conversation was going. He probably would not get such a response if Blake was not at least willing to listen. Now was his chance. [plyr=revo]"Well, I doubt we could really entice you with goods. Of course we might be able to deliver stuff you are lacking, but seeing it here, you're probably relatively self-sufficient?"[/plyr] Noah took a short break to sip at his drink, before continuing his proposal. [plyr=revo]"So, I might have another idea. You want to fight here, but based on what I have seen so far, you lack the manpower and know-how. I definitely cannot promise too much, as I'm a relatively low soldier myself, but I'm sure that I could convince some higher ups to send help."[/plyr] For now, he just hoped that he could really achieve what he promised. While the revolutionaries might want to help civilians, Noah had no idea how much manpower they could spare.

Maybe he could, in a worst case scenario, prolong his stay on the island? He might just be of limited use alone, but at least he knew the island and some of its citizens were at least familiar. Blake seemed to think about the proposal for a while, before he ultimately raised his voice. [npc=misc]"I like it, but am not alone in the position to approve this or not."[/npc] Blake said, as it was getting late. [npc=misc]"Why don't you stay overnight, I'll talk to everybody I need to, and give you our decision tomorrow? And it's not like a return trip would be too safe, Leon is staying over, too, to not disturb his mother's business."[/npc]

The proposal made sense. While it could be a trap, the redhead doubted that the townspeople would go so far after greeting him so nicely. However, whatever Blake meant regarding Roberta, it did not help to stop Noah's curiosity.

WC: 754/6487/5000

Slowly but steadily, the day came to an end. Noah could stay in the pub, as it had a few small guest rooms on the second floor. Nothing too fancy, just a bed, a small wardrobe, as well as a desk and chair, plus a window, but more than enough for a night. While he would love to contact his superiors, this was something which had to wait a day, so there was relatively little left he could do with the remainder of today.

Leon was staying here as well and while Noah would be interested in talking to the boy, doing so in the middle of the night might not be the most sensible thing. Thus, Noah ended up standing in front of the window, looking outside and being lost in his thoughts.

The redhead recapitulated what he had learnt today, thinking back to his childhood on Baterilla. When what Leon said was true, both should have lived on the island at the same time, as Noah was not too much older than the boy was. Yet, he never remembered meeting or hearing about such a memorable person as Roberta was. How he would love to contact either of his parents right about now to further inquire them as they should have better memories as Noah. But maybe he was just putting too much importance on these details?

Noah had no idea how long in particular he was staring out of the window dreaming when he suddenly snapped out of his thoughts. In the distance, outside the village and semi visible was a trio of men looking at the pub Noah was in. No, more precisely, he felt as if they were directly looking at Noah. As the three were wearing black suits, it could only mean one thing for the redhead: one of the families of Baterilla found an interest of some sort in Noah. Those three did not dress like any of the villagers Noah had seen today.

Thinking about his options, Noah first entered a staring contest with the one man he thought would be the trio's leader. Nobody of the three made any suspicious movements, but probably tried to intimidate Noah by making sure he knew that he was watched. While this might have worked with some outsiders in the past, Noah did not feel threatened. Rather, it made him curious to see how they would act if he would confront them.

Thus, thinking about it for a little while longer, Noah decided to see what they really wanted or if they were really as tough as they thought they were. Their attempt at intimidation did not work. The revolutionary grabbed his sword, stored his other belongings away, and was soon on his way to see what the trio wanted.

On his way through the village Noah saw no other person on the streets and in a majority of houses barely any light could be seen. It looked like almost everyone was asleep, so Noah had a good chance of operating without disturbing others. He did not need long to close the gap to the trio, who were now looking at the man in front of them instead of at the window.

Before anybody could raise their voice, Noah took a moment to look at the men more closely. Two big and extremely bulky men were standing in front of a slightly smaller, but still very muscular individual. If Noah should guess, the smaller one was the leader of said group, whereas the other two should make sure to look as intimidating as possible. Looking at the way a good chunk of the island's population lived in fear, their plan seemed to work, but at least not when it came to Noah. He made sure to look unimpressed as best he could.

[npc=misc]"Good evening, sir. I'm sent in the name of the Monti family and first want to apologise that we disturb your well earned rest."[/npc] As imagined, the one Noah thought would be the boss was the one doing the talking. [npc=misc]"You may call me Silvio, but I am sorry to inform you that the Monti family does not welcome you sticking your nose into affairs it does not belong in. We would really hate to have to deal with you violently."[/npc] As if to put extra weight into the threat, the two brutes started to flex their muscles. Noah's meddling seemed to really have offended somebody.

WC: 743/7230/5000

Noah waited a moment for any other response, but as he could imagine, he did not get any. It appeared to him as those families really are used to getting their way when it comes to outsiders. If it was a fight they wanted, Noah would make sure they would get one. The redhead was soon answering his [dass]vis-à-vis'[cmt]Second time you used this phrase where it just doesn't fit. I realize you're using this as a synonym for "counterpart", but even that doesn't quite make sense in this context.[/cmt][/dass] demands, but in a way Silvio would most likely not like.

Instead of giving in into any threat he got, Noah simply started to laugh. As the trio of mafioso had to see the heartfelt laughter, Noah could see how their faces started to show displeasure and disdain. [plyr=revo]"Oh, sorry. Better keep myself in check, as I don't want to accidentally wake up the people here with my laughter. You better turn around and tell your precious Monti family that I do NOT take commands from you, thank you."[/plyr] Calming down, Noah showed a calm demeanour anew, tensed up and ready to engage. If he was certain about something right now, then it was that a battle could break out at any moment, for which he wanted to be prepared.

[npc=misc]"Too bad, why do outsiders always choose the dumb way out? Boys."[/npc] As soon as Silvio spat out his command, he put on a bored expression, waved with his hand, and turned around, getting ready to depart from the scene. The two muscle heads, meanwhile, prepared to strike. However, as if they were not used to much opposition, they moved rather slowly, which made it pretty easy for Noah to avoid their first attacks and get behind them in a swift motion. At the same time, he did unsheathe his sword, which allowed him to attack on his own. A strike with the dull side of his blade on the back of their heads should take them out of the picture momentarily.

When the thuds of their heavy bodies hitting the ground carried through the night, Noah was already on his way to Silvio. The enemy's leader managed just in time to see Noah closing the gap, summoned a blade of his own out of his sleeves, and barely in time defend himself against Noah's attack. [plyr=revo]"Too bad, why does criminal scum always choose the dumb way out?"[/plyr] Noah mimicked Silvio's choice of words in an attempt to throw him off balance again.

After witnessing how Silvio did not seem to be neither overpowered nor distressed so easily, Noah decided to calm down and focus on the task at hand. Mockery could only bring him so far, so his energy was better spent in the battle at hand. Silvio might look displeased having to dirty his hands, but ultimately still looked in control. Soon after, both traded blows, without any side in particular gaining any sort of advantage.

The sound of steel clashing on steel continued for a while, until Noah decided to change his tactics. While Noah was faster than Silvio, his cover was good enough to lessen the impact Noah's blows could achieve. [plyr=revo]"You could've simply stepped away when you had the chance to save your face. But no, your ego is bigger."[/plyr] While Noah started speaking, feathers started to spread all over his body, his physique changed form to adapt to his transformation, and more and more falconine features could be seen. After a moment, Noah was in his hybrid form. [plyr=revo]"But no, prey always realises the situation it is in far too late, right?"[/plyr] When Noah realised his opponent's fear creep up on his face, he both knew that the battle could soon be over, as well as how his opponent probably only heard of devil fruits in rumours.

While the battle started with both combatants on rather even ground, Noah's transformation soon allowed him to gain the upper hand, slowly but steadily whittling Silvio down. When the battle ultimately came to an end after Noah performed one last strike, he continued and simply grabbed Silvio by his throat with one of his talons. [plyr=revo]"Look at you, where did your attitude go to? It could be so easy for me to end your tiny life now."[/plyr] As if to undermine his words, Noah increased the pressure of his grip. Meanwhile, the two muscle heads started to get back on their feet, which Noah gratefully perceived, as this cut the time down Noah had to spend with talking, as he would not need to repeat what he was going to say now. [plyr=revo]"I hope you three learnt your place and leave the citizens here alone from now on. Tell that to your precious Monti family, and we do not need to redo this small negotiation, okay?"[/plyr]

Sheathing his sword so that both of his hands are free, Noah then threw Silvio to his henchmen before continuing his demands. [plyr=revo]"Now, to end our sweet little negotiations, you not only leave those people here alone, but you also start to lift some of your protection money demands and instead redirect parts of your income to better your people's situation."[/plyr] To undermine this, he placed one of his hands back on his sword. [plyr=revo]"Tell this to your superiors, comply, and we can be best friends. Unless you, the Monti family, want to be enemies with the New Revolutionary Army."[/plyr]

With one last gesture of intimidation, Noah scared the trio away who then made sure to cover as much distance to the redhead as fast as they could. For a moment the revolutionary remained in his hybrid form, before he eventually transformed back. A sigh of relief left his lips, before he started to realise what he had all demanded. While he probably overstepped some of his authority with the claims he formulated, it just felt right in the aftermath of this clash. Ultimately, he would still be around here a bit to solve some problems if need be.

When Noah thought about returning back to his chamber, he suddenly heard some clapping. Immediately, the redhead tensed up again, trying to localise the root of the sudden sound. When he found it, he soon started to relax, as he watched Blake, all dressed in black, carrying his [dass]monstrosity[cmt]You can switch up metaphors. Using the same one repeatedly ruins it.[/cmt][/dass] of a blade, stepping out of the shadow. Today, the man really managed to surprise Noah with sudden appearances.

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After a while, Blake stood in front of Noah and both eyed each other. Noah had an itch to know what Blake could achieve with his weapon, while Blake probably wished to know more about the revolutionary's power as well. [npc=misc]"Well, at first, I was somewhat sceptical after seeing just one man meddling here, coming from outside. Sure, like this it's easier to stay hidden, but in case of a conflict also more dangerous."[/npc], Blake started. [npc=misc]"But witnessing your little devil fruit might explain why just one individual came."[/npc] Noah took this as a compliment. So far, he could not sense any form of hostility coming from Blake. While he was not yet worn out, Noah really disliked the idea of heading right into the next conflict.

[plyr=revo]"Are they frequently sending groups to try to intimidate you and potential supporters?"[/plyr] Noah really wanted to know more about this behaviour. He really did not feel sorry for putting Silvio and his two henchmen into their place. While the Monti family and the other ruling groups too regarded their citizens as property, they should not feel obligated to get their way with everything. If they would fight among each other over who would rule one day it would be one thing. But they probably feared being too weak then if an outside force would decide to intervene. Now, as tiredness slowly creeped into Noah's bones, he started to worry a bit about potential responses, either from the Montis themselves or some of their allies, but Noah tried to reassure himself that it would end okay, hoping to be sent support in time.

[npc=misc]"They frequently send somebody our way and are nearly as often spotted by me. If I find them first… it won't necessarily end too favourable for them. If they find somebody else, they sometimes manage to incite fear. Lost quite a few good people this way."[/npc] Now, Blake watched into the night with thoughtful eyes, lost in old memories. The way he phrased it made it sound as if some individuals just forfeited their freedom, but something made Noah think it was not always decided so "peacefully". [npc=misc]"But that's a story for another time."[/npc] Blake snapped out of his thoughts, placed a hand on Noah's shoulder temporarily, before he walked back into the village. [npc=misc]"I'm sure you're tired and want to rest. We can talk more another time. Just good to have somebody else here for guard duty."[/npc]

Trying to change the mood, Blake undermined his last few words with a contagious laughter. Noah stood a bit longer in the dark, watching Blake slowly disappear into the settlement. A smile found its way on his lips and after a while, he was on his way back into his chamber as well. Tonight's problems could also be solved tomorrow.

The rest of the night continued rather uneventfully. Back in his room, Noah first took care of his wounds, before ultimately succumbing to sleep. As a consequence of his nightly battle, the young man was more exhausted than usual and thus spent more time in bed than he was used to. With some more work to do, Noah hurried to be ready for the new day, as he still had some superiors to contact.

Giving his report and presenting his plea for reinforcements, the redhead was ultimately happy to hear how his superiors would consider to implement a cell on Baterilla, which made Noah smile. Similarly, he was tasked with prolonging his stay on the island, so that his colleagues would have somebody to show them around. An order he gladly accepted, as he did not feel like leaving already. Especially if some of the local criminals were still looking for trouble.

When Noah finally left the pub late into the morning, he already saw Leon packing a carriage with a few men Noah did not know. [npc=misc]"Ready to leave?"[/npc] Leon still looked unusually cheerful for his standards. When Noah said he was ready and stored his belongings, he found a wooden training sword among Leon's belongings- it looks like Noah somehow managed to inspire him. [plyr=revo]"Ready when you are."[/plyr]

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The group surrounding Leon and Noah was on their way back to town. Today, Blake was not accompanying them, as the man seemed to have other tasks to attend to. However, before seeing the group off, he talked shortly with Noah, agreeing to his proposal. As it seemed, his mission could be regarded as successful; that is, at least as long as they remained operational. One never knew how the mafia would act if it felt threatened, but if Noah could hold out until reinforcement came, he was sure it would end well.

The trip the group undertook was overall uneventful. No sudden attacks, no other travellers in the wild, only a bit of chit-chat among the people. Leon reported about some of the orders his mother got and the revolutionary soon learnt how the other men accompanying them were artisans who needed to go to town. They were rather secretive of their tasks, but Noah could not really blame them. If he had to live under a tyrant's rule, the redhead would probably be less open about personal matters to strangers, too.

[plyr=revo]"Just let me know when you want another lecture."[/plyr], said Noah addressing Leon and pointing towards the blade. While he had no idea how long he would still be spending time on Baterilla, he should at least offer his help. Leon, meanwhile, shortly blushed before nodding energetically. As it seemed, the boy really did seem to benefit from being in the settlement.

After the group finally reached their destination, they quickly embarked in different directions. Leon was the first to head out, informing his mother of their safe arrival. Noah followed soon after, but said his farewells to the rest of the travelling company first. After those words were said, the redhead quickly followed his potential apprentice. Though before he entered Roberta's smithy, he could not fully believe his eyes. While he was away for just one day, the shop appeared to have changed.

At first, Noah realised how some of the area outside the shop looked different, unkempt, as if weeks had passed without cleaning. Afterwards, he found more and more damaged parts he was sure of were not there yesterday. This impression only got clearer after Noah entered the building, which looked almost worse. It got more apparent, too, after Noah found Roberta cleaning her workshop instead of running her forge. [plyr=revo]"What the hell happened here?"[/plyr] The proper way to start a conversation would probably be to first say one's hello, but Noah skipped that part. At least as far as he could tell Roberta looked unhurt, if exhausted.

[npc=misc]"Welcome back, kid."[/npc] Roberta did not seem to answer immediately. [npc=misc]"If you have time to worry about that, you have enough energy to work, good."[/npc] To undermine her words, Roberta threw a broom in Noah's way. The redhead started working, grudgingly, but still waited for his answer. After a sigh, Roberta started talking. [npc=misc]"Look, I don't like paying strangers for protection I don't need. So, they regularly send me a group of friendly neighbours wanting to prove a point, just to be sent away. Yesterday, the group was a bit bigger than what I'm used to, so a bit more got damaged than usual, as I had to show more people ‘kindly’ out. Nothing extraordinary."[/npc] Now, Noah was ultimately convinced that Roberta knew how to fight. No ordinary person would voluntarily fight so much just to run a shop.

A bit more time passed and the first, though partly rudimentary, repairs were done. Slowly but steadily, the workshop started to look again as he had a day ago. Noah still wondered how Roberta exactly knew when her "friendly neighbours" were coming, but as he did not get any more information out of her regarding this topic, the young man eventually gave up and decided to try his luck another time. For now, he just enjoyed the time here.

Later that day, everything started to return to normal- at least the kind of normal Noah experienced here recently. While today was not really used for work in the forge, this would definitely change the next day. Leon took the time to hand his mother the list of orders and Noah now finally got a proper look at them himself. While nothing too spectacular, it was enough to keep them busy for a bit. [plyr=revo]"Where do we start? Assuming you still want to have me around."[/plyr] Noah still needed a place to stay for at least a few days, so he might as well make himself useful. Instead of directly answering his question, Roberta fell into laughter. For now, he simply interpreted this as a yes.

WC: 777/9740/5000