Tortle Enclave.

Clive and Kilpa made their way to the enclave, following the river and groaning as the trek there didn't have as well worn a path since interactions with the tortles wasn't quite as frequent as Clive's was with Sloth. As they neared they could see the tortles going about their daily activities with little care or concern about the cold.

The tortles shuffled and hobbled everywhere they went as they collected fallen leaves and branches to form beds while a small handful of little tortles swam in the lake nearby under the watchful eye of their elders. Clive wasn't sure how they could swim in the no-doubt freezing water, but he was sure it had something to do with the way the water seemed to move despite the little tortlings splashing and wadding about. He could even see several tortles swimming deep within the lake.

If he didn't already have a overflowing plate he would be interested in getting an explanation from Kesle or the other tortles as to why the water was doing that, but he could also take a wildly educated guess and say it had something to do with them being able to communicate with the elements. Which was, again, something he would be interested in. But that was for another time, he thought as Kesle turned her head at the sounds of her kin greeting him and Kilpa.

The two of them walked through the enclave that seemed to have barely changed since Clive was last there. With how slow the tortles hobbled around he wasn't surprised though as he watched a couple slowly make their way back from the nearby woods with arms full of leaves, branches, and food. Chatting the entire way and frequently stopping to converse some more, uncaring and not worrying about what went on around them. An attitude shared by the rest of the forty-odd enclave of turtle folk. Progress was made, but it was painstakingly slow for Clive and Kilpa's taste. They'd bet even the laidback attitude of the Big Families would be put to the test having to deal with the turtles.

"Welcome human and halfling! What can the tortles do for you this day?!" Kesle greeted as the two neared to where she sat upon a bed of leaves and moss.

"Evening Kesle. We're here to discuss with you about development of the halfling colony." Clive started out.

Kesle nodded and motioned for him to continue.

"So, I was made mayor of the colony in the aftermath of the gang attack. Speaking of which, I didn't even think to ask how you all fared?"

Kesle chuckled.

"We fared quite well! Can't say the same for the hooligans that came by expecting to snatch away the halflings that sought shelter with us!"

"What er, happened?"

"Well let's see. Two of them got swiped away from the giant that valiantly came to our aid! The last tried to run but found himself rather hindered by the land itself." Kesle explained with a cackle.

"Sloth helped?" Clive asked as he cocked a brow and glanced over to where the giant's tree was.

"He did! Wanted to go help you, but I advised that he would harm more than help if he did that." Kesle explained further.

"That... was probably a good idea." Clive said as he could just picture Sloth coming to the rescue and accidentally squishing halflings and gangers both.

"Now that you have asked after our wellbeing, what's this about the colony?"

"Right, with the colony expanding we took the initiative to purchase the land surrounding it, which legally includes the land that your own settlement is on. Which now that I think about it I probably should've came and spoke with you before doing that."

"Fret not human. We are content no matter if you claim the land around us or leave it to the wilds. Just so long as we have access to the lake you'll find no issue with us."

"That's... quite accommodating." Clive said with a bit of surprise.

"What? Did you expect us to cause a fuss? To raise our staves and the elements themselves in righteous anger? To march on the colony and make our demands?" Kesle asked with mock bravado.

"Well... not quite. But I did expect a bit more than, leave us the lake otherwise we don't care."

"Why would we care? The lake will provide for us more than the land around us will."

"But don't you have some sort of pact with the elements or something?" Clive asked, and immediately felt stupid as Kesle cackled as she slapped her knee.

"Of course not! Even if we did, such agreements with the elements are rarely ever permanent! They're as fickle as fey! Even now the earth fights against itself, dirt eating stone eating sand eating dirt and so on and so forth. The water is no different. The lake wishes to expand and grow to reclaim more from the land, but the river takes away from it so IT can grow and expand. The elements, even those of the same realm, are constantly at war with one another and rarely ever settle such rivalries. Few races actually try and tie themselves to the elements. We are aligned with water for obvious reasons, but that doesn't extend to eternal fealty like some races do."

"So you really dinnae care?" Kilpa asked a bit skeptically.

"Nope! Besides, I doubt the halflings will build a giant city made of stone and wood around us."

Kilpa snorted.

"E'en if we could, we'd probably still just build our hill homes and fields."

"See? Again, so long as we have access to the lake, and first say in any changes to it, we have no issues being within the colony's borders." Kesle stated.

"That's fair. Why don't you come by the colony tomorrow where we'll announce the official name as well as several changes? From there we can work out an official agreement so there isn't any misunderstandings?" Clive suggested.

"Of course! It's high time we formally introduce ourselves to the halflings anyway!" Kesle smiled.

With that, Clive and Kilpa shook hands with the Great Sage and departed. A bit of spring in their still hobbled step at having a friendly agreement with the tortles sorted out. As they made their way back though, they ran into a group of some dozen halflings, all in various states of injury. Some had scrapes and bruises still. Others needed assistance to walk. One of them was missing an arm and two others were missing a leg. Most still had bloody bandages over the many cuts and gashes.

"Jesus! What happened!?" Clive asked with concern.

"Not ta worry none Mayor! This 'ere were from those 'ooligans tha other day!" The one in the lead said to calm down Clive and Kilpa.

"So we aren't under attack?" Kilpa asked as she looked over to where they could see the edge of the colony past the trees.

"Not ta our knowledge we aren't." Another wounded halfling said.

"Well that's good. But then why are you all out here and not back healing and getting some rest?" Clive asked as he looked at the group.

"Well, we 'eard 'bout you wantin' ta form a militia fer tha colony. Tha' true?"

"Yeah, it is."

"Wha' er, would tha' entail exactly?"

"Well, it would entail what a militia would typically do. Being the first line of defense in case of another attack like the one from the gang, or something else. It would also involve disaster relief along side the cops."

"So they wouldn'y be sent away from their 'omes?"

"Nope. They would remain here to protect them." Clive explained as a look of relief and determination came over the assorted halflings.

They all looked to one another before trying their best to form a semi-decent line.

"Then we would like ta offer our services Mayor Clive!"

Clive and Kilpa both looked in shock at the formed halflings. Clive was expecting to have to draft some for a militia, yet here were a dozen willingly offering themselves! Kilpa also found it strange, few halflings would willingly commit themselves to potentially seeing combat. Those few that did usually ended up like she did, as adventurers. Most that got the itch to explore and adventure though usually ended up just joining the local constabulary instead though.

Clive spoke first.

"Not that I'm not grateful that some want to actually join but-"

"Why?" Kilpa finished as she too was curious.

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"Well, some o' us were there in tha fields when those brigands came! It were me, ol' Tim, 'nd a few others tha' rang tha cowbells as warnin's we were. I managed to get away with nothin' too serious. But ol' Tim got cut down by tha' elf 'e did." The lead halfling said as he got a little teary-eyed at the mention of his friend that fell during the attack.

"Tha rest o' us were in tha thick o' tha fightin' we were! We gave as good as we got we did!" One of the others cried to cheers from the rest.

Clive and Kilpa both looked at the group as neither one of them could quite believe it.

"So even after all that, you WANT to do it again?"

"Seven hells no we dinnae! But someone ought ta! 'Nd, we kinda liked tha feelin' o' protectin' our 'ome 'nd families." The lead halfling explained.

"But 'alf o' you aren't in any condition ta fight!" Kilpa stated.

"Well maybe not. But we wanna still do somethin' other than bein' burdens! Not like some o' us can till fields er chase after sheep 'nd cows anymore." The lead halfling pointed out as he gestured to those with missing limbs.

"Well you can." Clive said and many halfling eyes turned to him.

"In our world you can get a replacement limb. Even if you can't we have things that would make things still easier for you."

"Yer sayin' we can get our arms 'nd legs back?!"

"Not exactly. They would be prosthetics. A fake limb. A arm or leg made of metal, plastic, or wood." Clive clarified, though the halflings, including Kilpa all looked at him funny.

"Like a peg leg?"

"Yeah! Like a peg leg! Except it wouldn't be as painful to walk on as a peg leg. Even if we can't get you a prosthetic for your arms or legs, we have wheelchairs and other devices that would make your lives alot easier."

"Wha's a wheelchair?"

"You know what Fallmeadow uses ta get around with?"

"Tha' wheelbarrow?"

"Yeah, it's like that except you won't need several of your kids to push you. We even have some that are motor operated so you wont need ANYONE to push you! You could easily drive yourselves!"

"Wha's a motor?"

"It's a machine that runs on gas or electricity." Clive started to explain but quickly stopped as it was obvious that none of them knew what he was talking about, even Kilpa gave him a bit of a confused look.

Schooling, definitely a top priority, Clive thought as he moved on.

"Never mind. The point is, we have things in our world that can make it so you can still fight for your home or provide for your families despite you missing a limb."

"So... can we still be in tha militia?"

"Yes. You can still be in the militia." Clive answered.

The halflings cheered and Kilpa and Clive smiled. He was glad for many reasons, one being that they had willing volunteers for the militia, even if he'll have to jury-rig something so they can actually fight when they needed to. Another was that he could give these halflings something that they probably didn't have back in their world. A sense of purpose after being considered invalids.

"Tomorrow we'll have a big announcement and celebration. Why don't you get some nice clothes on and meet us on stage and we'll add you to the announcements?" Clive asked.

"Thank you Mayor Clive fer givin' us this chance! We'll not let you down!" The lead halfling cheered before he and the rest left to limp back to their homes, chatting excitedly.

"Do you really not have prosthetics or ways to regrow limbs?" Clive asked as he and Kilpa watched them leave before slowly walking back themselves.

"Other than tha mentioned peg legs? Not really. Dinnae matter if it were made o' wood er metal, it still was just as bad as havin' no leg at all. 'Nd regrowin' a limb was all sorts o' complicated 'nd usually you ended up with more than you asked fer!"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean some folk like ta exploit those wantin' ta reclaim wha' they lost. So they turn ta some unsavory folks believin' they'll get an arm er an eye back, only ta lose their souls 'nd end up some sort o' abomination stitched from dozens o' others tha' thought tha same."

"But don't you have healing magic back there?"

"Aye, but it can only do so much. It can seal a wound. Cure simple headaches. But fer alot o' major stuff like regrowin' limbs? Curin' ills o' tha mind? Ne'er. It can keep a severed arm from bleedin' you out. It can calm a hangover. But it won't brin' tha limb back nor cure somethin' permanent o' tha mind."

"So I suppose resurrection isn't really a thing either?"

"Not TRUE resurrection if tha' were wha' yer askin'. Anybody with a grasp o' dark magic can raise tha dead. But bringin' someone back from tha dead as they were when they were alive? Impossible."

"Really?"

"Aye. In all my adventerin' I 'eard o' it 'appenin' only TWO times. 'Nd both times were done with preparation YEARS in advance 'nd MASSIVE amounts o' effort 'nd resources. 'Nd e'en then there were issues."

"Like?"

"Like tha fact tha' dyin' causes permanent damage ta tha soul. Dinnae matter if they died peacefully in their sleep surrounded by loved ones, er a shiv ta tha back in an alley. Once a soul parts from its body it loses some o' itself in tha process. Wha' comes back isn't completely who was lost."

"So then how does something like necromancy work?"

Kilpa shivered at the mention of the dark practice.

"Depends on who they're raisin' 'nd how. Skeletons 'nd zombies are commonly just husks being controlled by dark magic. Puppets on magical strings. Rarely do they still 'ave any sort o' memories er emotions from before they died. Spirits are actual souls bound ta somethin', either someone's will er a place er object o' importance ta 'em. 'Nd half tha time they're so tortured 'nd angered tha' their memories are warped 'nd twisted anyway. Lil more than monsters than departed friends 'nd loved ones. Most dinnae e'en know they died."

"Other times they bind tattered souls er their remnant energy ta objects er constructs. Lil more than prisoners in rotted stitched bodies er profane devices. Makes usual fodder a wee bit smarter er used ta power spells."

"There isn't a way ta brin' someone back from tha dead fully as they were. Cause once someone dies a part o' them dies with 'em. Emotions 'nd memories are ne'er tha same as they were in life."

"I'm guessing there's a story there?"

"Aye. But another time. Tha' story is a bitter one tha I'd rather not tell ta spoil endin' tha day on a good note." Kilpa said as she pointed up and Clive realized that the day was indeed coming to an end.

"Well, guess this is it then." Clive said as they neared the point where their two tents were in separate directions.

"Guess it is. Lookin' forward ta workin' with you again, Mayor Clive." Kilpa said as she tried her best to saunter away despite her limp.

Clive likewise tried to turn in. But his injuries and the shortness of the cot prevented him from getting a good rest. But at least the day had been a productive one, despite the rather spitefulness of the Big Families, and tomorrow he would announce many new changes for the colony.

The next Morning.

Clive grunted and groaned as he slipped out of his tent. He hoped the guys could finish the halfling homes soon so he wouldn't have to feel like he was trying to sleep on a loveseat every night. He stretched as much as he physically could given his wounds. With that taken care of he hobbled towards the feasting tent for breakfast.

While he thought about waking Kilpa up, he figured he'd let her sleep. She was pushing herself harder than he was yesterday, Clive thought as he parted the tent to find the heads of the Big Families still eating and bullshitting. Or they would if Kilpa wasn't arguing with them.

"Lazy buncha knobgobblers tha lot o' you! Cannae e'en try ta 'elp!"

"Bah! Says tha lass tha' went off bein' some vainglorious fool adventurer!"

"Aye! I left ta get coin fer my town!"

"'Nd 'ow did tha' work out I wonder?!"

"Enough!" Clive shouted before someone ended up dead. Though he had money on Kilpa for many reasons.

Clive rubbed his face before beckoning Kilpa to follow after him. Leaving the heads to laugh and mock while they ate their own breakfast.

"What are you doing up so early?"

"I always get up early. Force o' habit." Kilpa explained as they took a seat at the bar and were quickly fetched a plate of sausage and potatoes with warm frothy milk.

"So, what're we doin' today Mayor?" Kilpa asked.

"Well, I guess we wait until enough of the colony is awake and spread the word we have some announcements to make." Clive explained as he ate his food and gagged down the freshly collected milk.

So the two of them ate their breakfast as the feasting tent filled up with more and more people coming in for their own breakfast before heading out to do their daily chores or jobs. While Clive would've liked to had done it all in one go, some halflings didn't really stay to eat and instead took some bundles of food before heading out to do whatever it was that they were doing.

Guess they'll just have to hear it from word of mouth instead, Clive thought as he got up when the feasting tent was sufficiently full. He grabbed a tankard of ale and gently tapped his fork against it to get everyone's attention. An action he repeated when barely anyone looked up at him. Then again. Then again. Kilpa rolled her eyes and moved over and took the tankard before slamming down thrice on the bar counter. Causing all eyes within the feasting tent to turn and look at the two of them.

"Thank you." Clive muttered as he collected himself before speaking.

"Morning Everyone! I'm Mayor Cliven MacConner and I have a few announcements to make!" Clive called out and the assembled halflings murmured and talked to one another for a moment.

Clive waited for a lull before speaking again.

"Firstly. I would like to thank you all for putting your faith and trust in me. Something I will endeavor to fulfill as my duty as Mayor! With that, I would like to announce a few things today. Later we will have an official naming ceremony for the colony!"

The crowd of halflings cheered and celebrated at the news that their little colony would now have a name. Clive continued.

"Next, the colony has officially expanded to include land to the north, west, and south of us! This land will be distributed or auctioned off during the naming ceremony!"

The halflings once again cheered. Already Clive and Kilpa could hear talking among them of new fields for when spring comes around or how much of the forest to clear for it. While Clive didn't like the idea of the halflings intruding on Sloth's home, there wasn't a whole lot that he could do about it other than hope and pray that the halflings left him alone.

"Another, is that after the naming ceremony we will be swearing in our new police force and militia!" Clive called out and was met with scattered and confused cheers.

"Constables." Kilpa clarified which earned renewed cheers of understanding.

Before Clive could continue someone spoke up.

"Wait, wha' 'appened ta Tom?"

"Tom?"

"Aye! He's been a constable fer years! Wha' 'appened ta 'im?" The halfling continued.

Clive figured they were probably talking about that obnoxious halfling he fired.

"Mr. Frogbottom was let go after his long years of service as he wasn't qualified to continue his duty."

"Tha' ain't wha' I 'eard! I 'eard from him tha' he was fired!"

"Yeah, that's what let go means." Clive explained and continued even as the halfling and a few others grumbled.

"We will also be signing an agreement with the tortles down the way over the lake an-"

"Like tha Seven Hells we will!" Came a reply from the heads of the Big Families.

Clive groaned as he figured something like this was coming. One of the heads sauntered over like a cock on the block.

"I dinnae 'bout any o' you. But I won't be signin' o'er nothin' ta no-one I won't!"

"Until yesterday we didn't own the lake. The turtles should have a say in how it is handled now that it is."

"Bah! Dinnae matter! We need tha' lake fer our colony!"

"No we don't, we don't even really need the river either once we get electricity set up." Clive explained.

"'Nd when will tha' be oh wise mayor?! Befer er after you sell us out!?" The head proclaimed to all gathered earning far more nods than Clive would've preferred.

"This new mayor may be tryin' his best, but as we can see. Barely a single day 'as gone by 'nd already he's replacin' folk! Our constable o' twenty years is cast aside 'nd replaced with a buncha outsiders like his lover!" The head continued. Riling up the halflings as he continued to speak.

"'Nd he's impressed our own wounded inta bein' soldiers! Those tha' 'ave given so much fer us already are now goin' ta be forced ta protect us!" The halfling continued, making Clive and Kilpa both fume as he spun it.

"Now he's tellin' us tha' tha new land fer tha colony is ta be shared with a buncha folk tha' ISN'T us halflin's! Though who's surprised when he sided with a giant o'er tha very folk tha' offered him shelter in his time o' need!" The halfling spin-doctor continued, earning Clive more and more glares and heated words that were said louder and louder.

"Ingrate!"

"Carpetbagger!"

Those were just the politer words thrown Clive's way. He wasn't sure if carpetbagger meant the same thing to the halflings as it did to the humans but he was damn sure he wasn't intent on finding out.

"People! These changes are important and needed to be done!"

"Says who?! You?! A typical tallman tha's intent on bossin' us halflin's around like all the rest!"

The halfling mob was getting more and more heated, to the point where the spin-doctor simply smiled at Clive and Kilpa and returned to the table with the other heads giving him a smug look. Those little fucking shits, Clive thought. So that was how they wanted to play. He might not have wanted to be mayor, but he sure as shit wasn't going out like this!

Clive snatched the tankard from Kilpa, who looked about ready to throw it at someone, and slammed it down so hard on the bar that the wooden counter cracked. Silencing the barrage of insults and slurs for a moment.

"You think what I'm doing is so bad?! Tell me then? How many times have you gone to Mr. Frogbottom with problems and it was never taken care of?! How many times has something happened and nothing was done about it?!"

The halflings murmured a bit but Clive continued.

"I have DOZENS of reports back at the assembly tent about people getting their food stolen, food that is supposed to be saved for when winter comes! I have reports about halflings getting so sloshed that they cause damage and fornicate with farm animals! So tell me, has any of that gotten fixed?! Has any of it seen an ounce of concern and effort on the part of the former constable?!"

The mob went silent at that, some even giving the reoccurring halfling vandal and sheep-shagger dirty looks as he was already tippsy from drink even this early. But Clive pressed forward.

"No! I imagine you haven't since these reports are YEARS old! And these wounded halflings weren't pressed into service against their wills! They VOLUNTEERED! They gladly asked to continue to protect their homes and families!"

Clive pressed on as he saw the head spin-doctor stuttering and trying to work up a new angle.

"As for 'giving away halfling land'? I'm brokering friendship with a group of people that are our closest neighbors! Neighbors who were there before we, before I, bought that land for you! I didn't think that was such a bad thing to be neighborly!"

Those at the head table were quietly discussing with one another heatedly. Clive wasn't going to let this slip by him though. If they wanted him gone he wasn't going to leave without swinging!

"And what was that about being a typical tallman? Is it really a bad thing that I want to provide for a people that have welcomed me and want to do the best I can for them? What about the other humans?! Those that have offered their time, energy, blood, sweat, and tears for you? Are they just typical 'tallmen'? Were they when they offered you their friendship and love?! Were they when some of them gave their lives to defend you, to fight with you?!"

That did it, Clive thought as he saw the looks of guilt and shame come over the crowd that just moments ago looked like they were ready to tar and feather him. Even the heads of the Big Families grumbled and conceded as none were keen on trying to sway the crowd anymore.

"Good. These changes are for YOUR benefit! These new cops will do their jobs and actually hear and handle your grievances, the militia will protect you, friendship with the turtles is the right thing to do! All these and more are what I promise you as Mayor going forwards!"

Clive didn't bother to stick around, he just left the halflings to stew on that as he and Kilpa left. The announcements were made and now was the time to get things ready for the big naming ceremony and other things sorted. Hopefully without any more stunts like that from the Big Families, Clive thought.