originally posted in:The New Dojo
"Oh...." Bella said softly. "Well...we are almost at the end of this! We just...have to talk to my father. And then...the Grenwald leader."
English
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Cannon stepped up to protect the Grenwalds should the crowd turn violent. Despite his wounds, He was still intimidating. "You people don't get it. This war... There's no winning. You either all die or you coexist."
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"Then we die!" The man declared. Some people nodded their heads, while most seemed to Like the latter of Cannons statement, "NO! YOU WILL NOT DIE!" Ulfric bellowed at the crowd. "You people are my family! I will not have more death than there already has been! People of the Tokage, this war is senseless and immoral! We were once discriminated against for what we believe, this is true, but dying over a simple difference in beliefs no longer fills me with determination but guilt!" "But Majora would-" "What would Majora do? What has the God of destruction done for us lately? My brother was killed on the dragons peak, where the last artifact of the dragon was! He died senselessly for his beliefs and why? To protect old bones?!" The crowd seemed to wane a bit, taking in their leaders words. "I am DONE with this war. I am DONE losing my people, my family!" Ulfric told everyone as he rested his hand on his daughters shoulder. "And I am DONE being angry at the grenwalds, and being the bloodthirsty religious nut jobs that they think we are! It is time to offer peace! It is worth a shot! And if the grenwalds deny that peace, then we will know who is truly in the wrong! So I ask of you, Members of the Tokage, will you stand by me? Will you come with me as family as we end this war once and for all?!" The crowd cheered at Ulfric's words. Even the man who had started the rant before began to chant with the crowd. The grenwalds looked around, and Abraham nodded his head. "Huh...well said." The Grenwald remarked.
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"That was one heck of a speech." Cannon smiled slightly, clutching his stump arm. "Let's hope the Grenwalds are as easy to convince as well."
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"Doubtful." Hiebert told Can. "We are significantly more stubborn than the Tokage."
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"That's hard to believe." Cannon joked with a smirk.
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Hiebert raised his eyebrows at the man's remark. "Ya well...you'll believe it soon enough." "Now!" Ulfric yelled. "The two grenwalds, Can, and a small group of Tokage will walk with me across the bridge. These two Grenwald men, Hiebert and Abraham, aim for peace as well. I will speak with their leader, Halt, and we will try to come to an agreement. This is the only way my friends." Ulfric turned to Cannon. "Can, are you ready?" The Tokage leader asked him.
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He took a deep breath. "Ready as I'll ever be." He stood up to follow.
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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.
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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.