originally posted in:The New Dojo
Ulfric nodded as he knelt down by Bella. He told her something, and she smiled and nodded. He hugged his daughter, and then walked from the crowd. Eight Tokage men followed him, while Can walked beside him and the grenwalds walked behind Cannon.
They all walked towards the bridge, and the grenwalds put themselves to the left of the group so that their people would see them.
"Alright. Raise your hands like this folks." Abraham said as held his hand up in the air with his thumb down and four fingers held up high. Hiebert did the same thing, and after some shuffling by the Tokage they too followed suit.
English
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Cannon did as well, hoping his left arm was not required.
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The arrows that were fired from before had gone quiet. Cannon saw the green cloaks on the opposite side of the bridge. Cannon also saw the corpses that lined the bridge, which consisted of Tokage and Grenwalds equally. Ulfric let out a breath as the group walked onto the bridge. Cannon saw that the man was nervous from the situation.
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Cannon was himself nervous as well, though he hid it perfectly as he walked. He hoped if the did shoor his skeleton would be able to keep the arrows from hitting anything vital.
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His incredibly optimistic(lol) nature seemed to keep the mando on edge. This didn't help anyone as the green cloaks began to walk across the bridge. A shorter sized man took the lead as dozens of Grenwalds followed behind him. The figure had his hood on so Can couldn't see his face. "Is that Halt?" Ulfric asked Hiebert. "Yes. Yes it is." Hiebert told him.
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Cannon nade a mental note that people around here had odd names as he stayed close to Ulfric, ready to step up should a Grenwald attempt to attack or shoot.
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The man and his green cloaks walked to he middle of the bridge as Ulfric did the same. The two met at the centre, face to face. Well, at least on Ulfric's side. Cannon could only see Halt's grizzled grey beard. "Ulfric Tokage. To what do I owe he damned pleasure." Halt greeted. "Halt Greenwich." Ulfric greeted a little more courteously. "I am here to discuss-" "Your surrender. Ideally." Halt told Ulfric. "You and your men came here on a suicide mission. It was idiotic of you. Why you decided to end this war now, I do not know. But what I do know is that you are a fool to think that I would give you safe haven. Go back across the bridge and end this." "Halt!" Hiebert yelled. Halt turned to the two Grenwalds who had helped Cannon. "Hiebert, Abraham. Are you bargaining chips or something?" "No, we came here willingly and they brought us with our permission." "What?" Halt asked. "Why the hell would you do that? Hell, how did you do that?"
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"Because they realized this war is idiotic. Just like Ulfric did a moment ago. Just like the others of the Tokage clan did. There's no winninh here." Cannon stated from his place beside Ulfric.
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"And who the hell are you?" Halt asked Cannon.
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"Cannon Lok. The Dojo sent me." He replied. "I came here because someone, Diana Coulbourn, was trying to frame your clan with the kidnapping of Ulfric's daughter."
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"I am aware of your mission." Halt told Cannon. "I was one of the few that was told. The same goes for none other than the two Grenwalds that were taken by these savages." Halt insulted Ulfric.
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Cannon's shoulders slumped, he hoped they were still alive. "I killed Coulbourn." He informed Halt. "And now I'm here to stop this senseless killing."
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Edited by Inflatablepants: 6/23/2017 12:25:09 AM"Senseless, is it? Then let's give it some purpose." Yale told Cannon. "These savages have taken two of my people. Tell me, Ulfric, are they still alive?" Ulfric bowed his head. "They...they are." "and what did you do to them?!" Halt looked at the man in front of him and shook his own head. Ulfric didn't reply. "Hmph. Thought as much. You religious, crazy, son of a bitch." Halt called out Ulfric. "I-I thought that you-" "I don't give a DAMN what you thought. The deed was done and here you stand in front of me, guilty as ever." Halt told Ulfric as he turned to Can. "Wars have been started over less than this don't you think? You're a soldier, you should know that."
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Edited by Cannon011: 6/23/2017 12:47:51 AM[spoiler]Cannon glared at Halt. "They have. But is that worth the casualties you'd take forcing them out if here? To say nothing of what you'd lose taking their village? Has this war been worth it to you?" He demanded. "You have the chance here and now to avoid losing anyone else."[/spoiler] [spoiler]A monument to all good writing that is wasted.[/spoiler]
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Cannon had no reply, and bowed his head. He'd sworn they would not be hurt. He'd given his word and failed. "That's on me. I promised them they'd be safe if they surrendered, and I failed them." He said in a low tone. "That's my fault."
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Edited by Inflatablepants: 6/23/2017 12:28:01 AM"Are you the one who tortured them, Cannon? No, you were not. Therefor you were not the one who committed the damned deed." Halt told Cannon. "And so here we stand. The end of the rope. I'll give you a choice, Cannon, since the dojo did assist me before. Join the Grenwalds, and end the Tokage menace once and for all." "What?" Ulfric asked. "We can still have peace. I can get you the two-" "Save your breath Ulfric. I'll take them from your camp when this is all said and done." Halt told Ulfric. Abraham immediately walked past Cannon and stood beside his leader. But, Hiebert stayed where he was. "Halt!" Hiebert said. "This is madness! This death, this fighting, it has to stop!" "I couldn't agree more Hiebert." Halt told Hiebert. "Which is why the Tokage die today."
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"You're right, Halt. Wars have been fought for less, but this is wrong. Nobody else has to be hurt. You think it will be easy driving them out of there? You'll lose lots of people, to say nothing of attacking their village. Yes, I'm a soldier, so trust me when I say you'll take far more casualties than they will if you attack. You have a chance at peace without further bloodshed. I suggest you take it rather than lose half your people." Cannon said, his voice low.
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"Are you insulting my clans capabilities, Cannon?" Halt asked as he brought his hood behind his head, which revealed his grizzled face and grey hair.
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"No, I'm bringing up common sense. Look at all your casualties, now look at the position you're attacking." Cannon didn't appear intimidated in the slightest. "Not to mention if I died here my clan would want vengeance, and no ammount of arrows would stop a dreadnaught."
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"So you're staying you ally yourself with the Tokage?" Halt asked. "No. He's an ally for both of us." Ulfric said. "I am sorry for my actions, I truly am. I am sorry for the blood I have spilt and the grief I have caused, but this conflict has gone on long enough. Please, Halt, let us live in peace. Together, or separate, it does not matter. But...we cannot live under the constant guise of wanting to end one another." "....I killed your brother, you know". Halt suddenly told Ulfric. The Tokage leaders eyes went wide as Halt made the statement. "He was going to sacrifice a girl who was barely an adult to your god. Luckily, I was there to drive my knife into his chest. Tell me, Ulfric, why would I want peace with people who do that?" Ulfric looked to the ground. Cannon saw the man shaking and he turned a light red....
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Edited by Cannon011: 6/23/2017 1:15:14 AM"Ulfric, if this war isn't worth lives then why te haran would you be willing to sacrifice lives? I know what it's like to lose family, but if what he says is true then your brother was in the wrong." Cannon told him, fist clenched. He half expected to be punched for it. "What would you have done in the same situation?"
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Ulfric continued to look down and he shut his eyes. "I...I never knew he...I never knew he would do that." Ulfric told Cannon. "He was extreme but I never expected he could do something like this...."
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Cannon turned to Halt. "See? Very few of the Tolkage are extremists like that. Even less now."
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Halt squinted his eyes as he looked at Cannon, as if he was analyzing his statement. "And how would we ever be able to trust them as long as these extremists exist?"
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"Trust goes both ways. You could sayvthe same for them after the threats you just made." He didn't whither under the stare, and returned it.
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"I am willing to put faith in you, Halt." Ulfric said. "Despite what you've dome against my family, I see why you did it. I won't forgive you, I can't do that. But I am willing to put aside our differences so that both of our people can live." Halt seemed to give off a low breath that rumbled on his throat. He seemed stumped by the situation as he no longer made eye contact with anyone.