Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Pooterville, Gen Territory Scenario
Episode #2: Pooterville Pass (8/17/99)
Lieutenant Liegh leaves Sheriff Pernier's office in the firm belief that he has furthered the noble cause of good relations with the local civilians.
Lieutenant Liegh is very in to noble causes: They tend to impress pretty young ladies.
Lieutenant Liegh strolls along the street towards the church, tipping his hat politely to the regulation angle at everyone he meets.
Lieutenant Liegh finally reaches the church, and gives the door the three sharp raps recommended for announcing his presence.
Dauget thinks he hears something. Faintly.
Dauget pokes his head out into the large central part of the church, listening.
Dauget of course isn't used to people knocking on the church door, they usually walk right in.
Lieutenant Liegh steps back from the door and straightens his uniform, so as to make the best possible impression.
Lieutenant Liegh read all about making impressions in the section of the manual about liaison positions.
Dauget finally comes forward and opens the door quizzically.
Dauget blinks when he sees a stranger, which is rare.
Dauget: Why hello, my son.
Dauget: Have you come to seek peace in the shelter of the Light?
Dauget thinks the chances of that are slim given the uniform, but one should never overlook someone who might be genuinely penitent.
Lieutenant Liegh stands at attention, although of course he doesn't salute a nonmilitary authority.
Lieutenant Liegh: Are you Pastor Dauget, sir?
Dauget: Yes, I am.
Lieutenant Liegh's mother always told him to be particularly polite to clergy.
Lieutenant Liegh: I am Lieutenant Liegh, recently placed in command of military activities in the Pooterville Pass area.
Lieutenant Liegh: I wonder if I might have a moment of your time?
Dauget: Of course.
Lieutenant Liegh: As part of taking up my command, I am visiting as many as possible of the civilian authorities, to determine how my troops can best be of service.
Lieutenant Liegh: I was hoping that you could share with me your thoughts on the matter.
Dauget: Well, I will try to be of assistance if I am able.
Lieutenant Liegh: Thank you, sir.
Lieutenant Liegh: What do you feel is the most immediate danger facing Pooterville?
Dauget considers.
Dauget notes the use of the word "immediate" which seems to specifically exclude the very real peril of eternal damnation which a disturbing number of the townsfolk are in.
Lieutenant Liegh is glad that Dauget is giving the question more careful consideration than the sheriff did.
Lieutenant Liegh has the sinking suspicion that his creased uniform and polished buttons didn't have the intended effect on Pernier.
Dauget: You know, this reminds me of the passage in the Book of Light, Simeon Page 6.
Lieutenant Liegh: Really?
Lieutenant Liegh frantically tries to recall his Sunday School lessons, which he mostly slept through as he dreamed of more secular glories.
Dauget: "And the lawman asked to the Shepherd, 'How is it that you can watch your sheep wander hither without fear, when you know there are wolves near?"
Lieutenant Liegh thinks he understands.
Lieutenant Liegh: Ah, so you feel that the livestock losses to wolves and pumas are damaging the community?
Dauget: Ah... no.
Dauget smiles kindly at the Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Liegh discards a tentative plan to organize a vermin-hunt.
Lieutenant Liegh: Well, it would have been a little bit outside of our technical area of responsibility, anyway.
Dauget: The Shepherd, to his flock, is like the priest of a village.
Dauget: And the wolves are the temptations of sin.
Lieutenant Liegh looks apologetic.
Lieutenant Liegh: I'm afraid that converting sinners is outside of my area of expertise.
Lieutenant Liegh thinks that soldiers are supposed to commit sins, and wishes he'd been able to convince a girl--any girl--to help him in that endeavor.
Lieutenant Liegh's career has managed to be distressingly sin-free in that respect so far, alas.
Dauget: Some would say that the common man is the most powerful force of conversion in any religion. [comments]
Lieutenant Liegh: Perhaps so, but regulations discourage such activities, as they cause dissension in the ranks.
Lieutenant Liegh: Are there any threats to the community, in your opinion, which do fall under the province of the military?
Dauget: Ah... yes... hmmm.
Dauget looks thoughtful.
Dauget: Well, the banditry and pillaging have had people worried. Between that and the increase in killings, people need to be reassured that there is some protection available.
Dauget's church has been doing a brisk business lately.
Lieutenant Liegh nods.
Lieutenant Liegh: Sheriff Pernier also mentioned the bandits.
Lieutenant Liegh: I understand that they usually operate in the pass?
Dauget: No, they're usually on our other side. To the East.
Dauget: Although sometimes they do hit the pass, when it's not raiding season.
Dauget thinks even highwaymen aren't bold enough to be found in the pass in the early spring.
Lieutenant Liegh: Do they just attack travellers, or have they also robbed outlying houses?
Dauget: Both. [confirms]
Lieutenant Liegh: And do they strike on any sort of a schedule, however tentative?
Dauget: Not that I am aware of.
Lieutenant Liegh frowns.
Lieutenant Liegh: That could make matters more difficult.
Lieutenant Liegh: My primary duty, of course, is to hold the pass against the Simes.
Dauget nods.
Lieutenant Liegh: This does limit to some extent the resources I can spend on other activities, useful though they may be to the community as a whole.
Lieutenant Liegh's eyebrows draw together thoughtfully.
Dauget: Actually, I believe you're the first of your post to show any interest in controlling the bandits.
Dauget: At least, the first I can remember.
Dauget forbears mentioning that most people had assumed the military was looking the other way, possibly for a little something on the side.
Dauget: Your thoroughness and initiative are to be commended.
Lieutenant Liegh's chest puffs out at the compliment, even as he wonders if he should mention the recent directive to improve community relations.
Lieutenant Liegh: Thank you, Pastor. Tell me, do you think that the community of Pooterville would be willing to assist the effort, if that is needed to stop these bandits once and for all?
Dauget: I think some would.
Lieutenant Liegh would rather not admit, even to himself, that he'd rather face Gen bandits than Sime raiders--after all, the worst a bandit would do is to shoot him.
Lieutenant Liegh: My time in Pooterville is limited, I'm afraid. Would you be willing to make inquiries and discover who among your parish would be willing to contribute to the effort?
Dauget: You know who you should talk to? The newspaper.
Dauget: I will be sure to mention it, but you really should have a notice in the paper as well.
Lieutenant Liegh has visions of himself, in uniform, leading a posse of locals (all of them in awe of his leadership) in a victorious battle against the bandits.
Lieutenant Liegh: The paper! What a splendid idea.
Lieutenant Liegh has always wanted to see his name in newsprint.
Dauget plans on doing exactly what he always does: Instead of trying to alter popular sentiment, taking whatever direction popular sentiment is already going in, and running with it in an attempt to get people to think about religion.
Lieutenant Liegh: Where is it located?
Dauget: Across from the general goods, you can't miss it.
Lieutenant Liegh: And who is the editor?
Lieutenant Liegh intends to carry his story straight to the top.
Lieutenant Liegh is used to big city papers, which actually have more than one person involved in news gathering and publication.
Dauget: Biddy Lewnecker. She is a good friend of Masilda, the head of the Ladies Auxiliary.
Dauget means, when he says "good friend", "worshiping toady".
Lieutenant Liegh writes the name carefully in his regulation notebook.
Lieutenant Liegh: Thank you very much for your assistance, sir.
Lieutenant Liegh: I do hope that we will be able to work together for the betterment of the community of Pooterville.
Dauget smiles.
Dauget: You're welcome.