Where the deer and the antelope play!

[Pegasus]

19th Saun, 721

Elliot looked at the man opposite him and he gave a slight smile. He had asked Oram to come and speak to him and then, when Oram arrived, Elliot had offered him a drink and a snack and done the whole 'gracious host' thing as much as was strictly necessary. There was no fuss from Elliot, it just wasn't his way so he got straight to the point.

They were sitting in what was, ostensibly, Elliot's 'office'. This was a room in the Ranger HQ here. It had open windows and sliding glass doors - one whole wall was glass. That might seem like it was too open, but it opened up into a small private garden. Judging by the state of the room, Elliot was a very organised man. Judging by how the garden looked, he also was a man who disliked "controlling" nature and preferred to let the garden be what it was. He'd offered Oram a cup of tea - and a slice of cake which, by his own admission, might just have gone a bit dry.

Then, he'd taken his own tea and cake and suggested they go sit in the garden. There were a few places and Elliot chose a log-carved bench which was close to some beautiful germini flowers which were in a rainbow of colours. "So, I made it clear that I'm going to be stepping down first of next cycle," Elliot said. There was no beating around the bush with him. "And I want to talk to you about maybe taking over. I can't think of anyone more qualified to do it in terms of experience and skills, but I don't want to drop it on you." He gave a brief, tight lipped smile.

"It seems to me that the best thing I can do is to say to you that I'd like you to have it, then to ask what you think and to answer any questions you might have, here where you can ask what you like and no one other than me is here." It wasn't Elliot's way to hide anything, he was an honest and forthright individual who wouldn't ever suggest a job to someone without telling them all of it.

Taking a bite of his cake he pulled a face. "You're going to want to dip that in the tea," he said. "otherwise, you might chip a tooth."

[Oram Mednix]

…where nary an owl spies discouraging scowl…

It must get hot in here, Oram thought, looking around at all the glass surrounding Elliot’s office with the Saun sunlight pouring in unrelentingly. And, in turn, cold. He had been here on one or two other occasions, yet had never paid attention to it as a room; architecture had never interested Oram that much. In front of him sat a cup of tea and a slice of cake that the hunter had some questions about, considering the effort it had seemingly taken to cut it; in doing so it had looked like the Chief Ranger had pulled a muscle, or dulled a knife, or both. The tea, however, smelled good, and Oram helped himself to a sip of it while he and Elliott got the guest-and-host things out of the way. Then Elliott suggested they go into the garden, which was just on the other side of the wall of glass to one side.

That garden looked about as well tended as it would if Oram were tending it. Actually, that wasn’t true. Although the plants looked wild, wooly, and assorted, with plenty of what his sister-in-law would call ‘volunteers’ popping up in the planters, they nonetheless appeared to be thriving somehow. As an outdoorsman himself, he could appreciate Elliot’s preferring things this way. He wondered, however, how much care even this seemingly wild garden required.

He didn’t wonder for long, however, as Elliott quickly announced what he’d invited Oram to talk about, and he didn’t even start with “It is evident to me”. The hunter nearly dropped his cake, which, under the circumstances, might not have been such a bad thing. At least he didn’t spill or choke on the tea.

”You ‘don’t want to drop it on’ me?” the traveler repeated with a mirthless, unbelieving chuckle. ”This is your version of easing me into it?” Oram scanned the garden to re-acquire his thoughts, finally managing to compose his expression into his wonted scowl. He had heard rumor that Elliott was planning to retire, and had considered the chance that this topic might come up, yet he had expected the discussion would concern mainly what to do about the Dustins, or the basements and tunnels the Egilrun rangers had recently started excavating under their compound, or the status of the outpost on Faldrun.

And, notwithstanding his refusal to talk about it to that point, and his steadfast ignoring of the frequent jabs and hints from the other Rangers, Oram had, in fact, given the prospect some thought. So he wasn’t entirely at a loss for a response, nor for questions. Having resettled his thoughts along with his cake, he sat back and looked at Elliott with a resigned sigh.

The first thing he said, after what seemed the better part of a bit was: ”Well, I suppose I’m honored, Elliott. Thank you for your confidence? I can think of a number of Rangers with the right skills, who know their way around this place at least as well as I do.” The politeness, gratitude, and humility out of the way, he turned his thoughts, and his talk, more seriously to what such a big suggestion meant for his near future.

”I guess my first question would be this: Do you know anybody else who *wants* this job?” He paused, then explained. ”In light of this thing with Sargo Dustin and Woe Morandi, along with other issues, I guess it occurs to me that it could be important to know who else might have been expecting or hoping to take over after you left.”

Oram frowned as he asked this, his voice taking on an edge of distaste. He hated the idea that one of the first things he might have to tackle after Elliott left, would be a political one. Nonetheless, he was starting to learn the hard way that such issues played a role even within the Ranger organization, and one of the first things he would want to know, in deciding whether to take Elliott up on his offer, would be who would get mad at him over it.

While he awaited Elliot's response, he put the cake aside. "I think I'll stick with the tea, if you don't mind," he declared. "It seems like you could dull a knife cutting that thing, and then use the slice to re-sharpen it."

[Pegasus]

19th Saun, 721

When Oram questioned if this was Elliot's means of easing him in, the Ranger gave a rare grin. "Yes, it is. There'll be a public meeting, first of next cycle, and I wouldn't want to have this conversation then. So subtle? Maybe not. But more subtle than that, at least."

He sat and waited as Oram took in the information and thought about it. When Oram spoke of being humbled, Elliot waved a hand and said nothing more of that, but he nodded his head at Oram's actual question. "I've always played my cards close to my chest," he said, stirring his drink. "I don't set expectations. There may be some who feel it is their right to step into my shoes, but I don't think so." He looked at Oram with a calm expression and spoke his thoughts, unaware of just how close to Oram's own ruminations they were.

"There was a time when that would not have been a necessary question. We've got to play the game of politics to an extent but, now that the Consortium is no longer in control, we are getting back to where we should be. Albeit rather slowly." He considered it and then laid things out in front of Oram. "If you take this, then you are not likely to get any major kickback from anyone that I know. If you did it would be a surprise to me. You're well liked and well respected." That much was certainly true, as far as Elliot was concerned. "I think the main issue you'll have is that people will want things from you. The council will have its agenda, the Elements will believe we should become under their control, that kind of thing. It can pull you in different directions, and people will try to get you to do what they want."

That was always the way, of course. Elliot looked at Oram and said, softly "I haven't advertised this, because it shouldn't be a reason to accept or not, but I plan to stay on in a consultation role for a cycle. Not doing the job, but here in this building to help the person who is." He shrugged slightly. "It seems only fair. There will be a lot of clean up following Slag's Deep and the Warden. The rebalancing of Scalvoris will impact our job, I have no doubt. It would be both thoughtless and inconsiderate of me not to offer that help." He gestured around. "The environment will change. I'd like to see us in the places where the four Induks are, I'd like to expand. Last time I suggested that, I was murdered," he said this without any apparent emotion. "It was in the council meeting where slavery was abolished. We took a break and I was taken during that break. Faith Augustin noticed I was gone and came to find me. I had been killed. I was in judgement with Pier and Pre, and suddenly this short woman, my fellow councillor, she was arguing for me." He shook his head. "Arguing with Immortals. For me. Can you imagine?"

Elliot smiled slightly at Oram. "The Warden had me killed, I was getting too close. He was in that council meeting and pushed to not delay it when Faith noticed I was gone. I swore then that I wouldn't stop until this place was rid of that," Sipping his tea, he put his cup down and smiled. "And now, it is. Time for new ideas, new perspectives. When my replacement is ready, time for me to enjoy the life I was given back." He, too, put down the cake.

"What are your thoughts?"

[Oram Mednix]

The Scone of Stone

Oram listened to Elliott explain why he did not expect any significant exception to Oram taking the job from those who might feel passed-over. It did not reassure the hunter entirely; remembering Pattis, he found it hard to believe that *no one* would feel aggrieved that such a newcomer as Oram Mednix had slipped into the Chief Ranger’s boots, rather than themselves. Then again, that would be true of any favorable position he might find himself coming into, the hunter reminded himself.

With difficulty, he prevented the groan within his breast from escaping out of his mouth when Elliott brought up how people would want stuff of him. Perhaps that was worse than a confederacy of aggrieved rivals and enemies: an endless queue of hopeful petitioners, aspirants, and know-it-alls who had figured out *just* what the Rangers needed now. And, as Elliott pointed out, there would be outside forces with their own ideas about the Rangers’ place in the world, regardless of who ran them. The Rangers under Elements control? No, thought Oram. Although he respected the Elements, the hunter did not want them in charge of him, or those he worked with. Working for somebody else was what got the outfit in so much trouble in the first place.

As Elliott explained that he would not disappear immediately, but would be available for advice and questions through the coming cycle, Oram nodded gratefully. ”That’s a load off my mind,” he said, palpably relieved. ”I wouldn’t relish the idea of starting my first trial of a new job like this with nothing more from you than a well-wishing note and a…” he pointed at the cake and grimaced, ”…complimentary pastry. And, of course, it would take me a while to even get situated here.” He might need to buy a house, of all things, he thought. And that was a strange thought to the traveler, indeed, at least as strange as thinking of himself as Chief Ranger.

The next topic, which Oram should have known would come up, made him much more uncomfortable. Elliott had an unnerving way of referring to the circumstances of his own death, his own murder, as if it had been just another rough trial at work for him. He did perk up a bit, though, when Elliott mentioned Faith’s role in his rescue. ”Faith brought you back from Pier and Pre?” he asked, in genuine wonder. ”I’ve met Faith; I like her. Now it sounds like I have yet another reason to want to be her friend.”

That brief moment of levity turned to earnestness once more, when Elliott concluded. “When my replacement is ready, time for me to enjoy the life I was given back." Oram wasn’t sure why those words struck him so hard, yet they did. When the Chief Ranger asked him what his thoughts were, the hunter took a few trills to marshall them.

”I guess I can understand that,” he started cautiously. ”I can see your not wanting to spend your second chance going right back to doing the same work that ground you down and got you killed in the first place.” Was that supposed to make him want the job, though, if Elliott really saw it that way? Oram took a few breaths to decide that that didn’t matter, that what should inform his decision was his own experience and perspective. He would be the one living with it, after all.

”Alright,” he said at last, ”I’ll do it. I’ll be your next Chief Ranger, if you’d like. You’ve mentioned your ideas for the future, expanding to where all four of the Induks are and such. Can you tell me more about that?”

[Pegasus]

19th Saun, 721

Elliot was not a fussy man by nature - he liked things clear and just out in the open. He nodded and gave a brief smile to Oram when he said that Elliot being there to help would be a relief. "I'm glad," his smile turned into a grin when Oram spoke of a complimentary pastry. "Nothing so cruel, I assure you."

When Elliot spoke of his death and Oram replied with a question, the Ranger nodded. "She did. I remember being struck by how short she was, as I lay on the ground." He smiled at the memory. "But, yes, she argued, they brought me back. It's one to tell the grandchildren, certainly." He looked at Oram then and he considered him carefully. It was like he could see the thoughts in Oram's mind, but he didn't speak of them, just let Oram come to his own conclusions.

Which, of course, he did. When Oram said that he'd do the job, Elliot smiled. "I'm pleased, really pleased. It has been a pleasure doing this job and I believe it is the most worthwhile role on Scalvoris," he said. "Which I say to you now since I wanted you to decide based on the worst aspects. They happen, and it would be unfair of me to sell it to you based on the best ones." It was only fair in his mind and so, now that the decision was made, he asked Oram to consider the next thing. "You speak of moving here. You don't have to, although you can. The Chief Ranger is where the HQ is. Not the other way around. There is an argument for you maintaining this as HQ, just as there is an argument for you moving to another building and area of Scalvoris too." In truth, Elliot believed it was up to Oram.

And in terms of expanding and the future? Elliot nodded. "I believe that Scalvoris is a very particular and unique place. But what isn't unique is that the land is the people and the people are the land." It was about as poetic - if it could be called such - that Elliot got. "And on Scalvoris, that means that the four areas of 'balance', the places where the Induks are - they're all very important places. We need to have relationships with those Induks. And, I believe, with the Order of the Adunih, too. I am happy to work within the law, but I resist any idea of the Rangers becoming part of the Elements. We are not. So, links with the land, links with the healers. I think the more links we can make with those groups - and with Saoire, and even the university and the Office of Natural Affairs. Things could be much more joined up. I'd like to see a Ranger Lodge in Sweetwine, in Scaltoth, on Faldrass and on Ishallr. Maybe a combined Lodge and Order outpost. That kind of thing. What's being done already on Faldrass is a good way to work, I believe."

He shrugged slightly. "But that's my belief and not one I've shared with anyone but you, since I don't want to muddy waters for my replacement." Looking at Oram he added."I will announce to the Rangers when you're ready for me too, from that point on, people will start wanting things from you. You'll also be expected to attend Council Meetings, but can send a representative if you choose." He sat back and looked at Oram thoughtfully. "Do you have questions?"

[Oram Mednix]

I have nothing complimentary to say about this pastry

Oram sat back and gazed into the garden surrounding them, silent for a few trills. This was happening, this was actually happening. And even while it felt foreseeable and even inevitable, it left him reeling a bit. He was glad he didn’t need to stand up just then.

Gradually his mind stopped buzzing and settled into coherent thoughts and feelings, the main one of the latter being nervousness -though not, as he would have expected, dread. He looked at Elliott and gave him a resigned grin and head shake. ”There’s a lot to do,” he observed, not very profoundly. ”A lot to do…” he repeated, trailing off more thoughtfully.

A couple more trills passed; it was good that Elliott was patient and not trying to press the tempo of the conversation. Finally, he came to a decision: ”In light of what you’re telling me, I think it would make sense for me to set up here, though. It’s convenient enough to Scalvoris, to the Sweetwine, even the Scaltoth, not too bad for Egilrun. It’s a bit farther away from Faldrass, but not by much.” He looked around. ”And it’d be a shame to abandon or give away this nice place. Besides people already know where it is.” And it would be one less thing to hassle with while trying to settle into the new job, Oram thought, though he did not voice it.

The traveler nodded in agreement as Elliot spoke of the various connections he felt the Rangers should make. He’d definitely want to talk to folks at the University, and not just faculty, as he had, but the mucky-mucks in administration. He’d need to talk more to Faith; he smiled at that, and grinned further when Elliott mentioned being struck by how short she was. He liked Faith, and she seemed unpretentious, in spite of her fame, ability, and station, and someone he could work with.

And the Council? The hunter sighed and his expression darkened just slightly. Those meetings were bound to be dreadful and trying, maybe even contentious, and most definitely fussy. But he would get to see Bao, at least, and he could visit Osric and Wig while in town, as well. When Elliott got to the idea of setting up Ranger stations in the Scaltoth, Sweetwine, and even Ishallr, all the hunter could think, and mutter, was: ”We’re gonna need more bodies.”

Even as he thought about those last few things, the traveler’s mind shifted from meetings and outpost logistics to the other things, the journeys he would need to make, the sites he would need to look at, the beings he would need to talk to. Contacting Sweetwine and the other induks, exploring the Faldrass Badlands, even visiting Ishallr. Thinking about going to and seeing these places, the adventures he could have in them, caused Oram’s Sojourn scar to itch, in a good way. And while he realized the position of Chief Ranger wouldn’t be all about wilderness adventures in exotic corners of Scalvoris and slaying monsters, he saw now that it also wouldn’t all be just committee meetings, requisition forms, and sorting out infighting squabbles.

At last, Elliott concluded and asked Oram if he had any last questions. Surprisingly, he did not. Of course, the man *did* say he intended to stick around for the next cycle to provide advice, so Oram could take comfort in the idea that a question he forgot to ask today need not go unanswered forever. ”Right, well, I expect I’ll be busy for that first tentrial or so, wrapping up old business and possibly settling into new digs, but I plan to settle in to dealing with new business after that. With that in mind, announce whenever you like.”

Oram set his mostly-drunk tea next to his mostly-untouched cake and sat forward, waiting to see if he was right that it was about time for this meeting to end.

[Pegasus]

Your Review

Oram

Overview

I think what I love most about how you write Oram is how you manage to making him so incredibly believable that it totally just immerses me in your writing and the story - your ability to write detail and to do so with such awareness of the overall situation is truly incredible. In summery, your writing and characterisation is superb, it's a pleasure to write with you and I hope you enjoy the well deserved rewards!

Points

XP: 15
Renown: 10

Loot

+1 job
-1 social life.....

Knowledge

Detection x 4
Etiquette x 2
Logistics x 3
Socialisation x 5

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this review - drop me a PM.