"For every brother you bring to our
midst, you may keep a trinket all to
yourself. She will not be sullied or traded, unless you deem otherwise. But should you bring a mare here without a new brother first, then I will consider her property of the Lagoon as a whole and do with her as I see fit." - Garmr
The Offspring
None
Rules
• The Lagoon is where homeless stallions come to live as a brotherhood. Mares may not live here except as captives or companions for the Leaders.
• Soldiers keep mainly to fighting, Thieves keep mainly to raiding, and Associates may do both, neither, or act as diplomats. Members may issue their own battles and raids, but should generally consult the General, Marauder or Boss for permission.
• All major decisions are determined by vote, but the Boss maintains order within the Lagoon and has the final say.
• Elections for leadership positions will be held every TLI summer, provided the qualifying criteria are met.
• You can find detailed information about how the Lagoon works on the Rules page.
• Upon election, the Boss can issue a rule for members to follow during their tenure. It is up to leadership to enforce.
Mother Goose is just a fairy-tale Posted on October 31, 2020 at 07:29:11 PM by Goose
Cullen spoke of the stallions here in the Lagoon being more his family than his blood lines ever had seemed to be. Goose wonders how much of that is really true but for once; he does not comment here. Goose listens; waiting. He is biding his time to respond again, but he is letting the other speak his piece. Cullen had mostly listened to him after all and it seemed only a neutral respect to bide him the same courtesy. Only right. Goose rather do what was right and made sense to him, than the latter. Goose watches the other stallion and does not falter a glance. Goose does not trust this stallion anymore than his latest deal. What choice had he though? Cullen is at least holding a decent conversation for the most part this time though.
"You are right about that Cullen. Our perceived meanings are not the same. I cannot lie and say that they will ever be the same either. I have my ways and my family. I guess you could say that I am as stubborn in my stance with my home and family that you are here to yours."
What other reason made the most sense after all? Cullen was stubborn and went after what he wanted for what he felt was the better of his home here in the Lagoon. His legacy so he claimed it to be. Power and fear. Fight for what you want and make deals when that leads others to loathe and hate you. Cullen had done just that of the Bay. Goose was not necessarily here because he truly wanted to be. He was here for a deal in which gave him back his family. A stance beside Cullen and a vote for the time being. Give him what he wanted and then go back to his family. That was the deal. His son was his own, but Goose had mentioned that he'd still send him here and then it would be up to his son to decide for himself in the future where his loyalties would lie. Goose's family would be left alone and so would the Bay. Was it just another farce though? Would he come again for them and for his Matriarch? Was Valka destined to be something of a trophy prize to this buckskin no matter the deal? Goose was taking a chance here in that this was not the case.
Cullen mentioned about not having made this deal to talk about what he should have done or not done. He mentioned that their morals were not the same. There was pure truth to that. Then something is further said and Goose holds his roll of the eyes. Goose does not remain quiet this time though. How can he when there is much to be said on the matter and little truth it would seem with it.
"You speak of caring about your brethren Cullen. Perhaps that is true for those that are here now. There is little truth in that though; for those you left in the Peak." There is not need to say more honestly as Cullen knew what he had done for them. Nothing. Left them there to rot for all this time while he went out and sought out new trophies by way of claims and battles. Raids attempted and failed. Some not so much but others failed. He groomed them into what he wanted them to be. Well, most of them. One in particular seemed to be smitte to him and it made Goose cringe inside to think that one could honestly love Cullen that much and barely know him. It was disgusting really. Goose knew nothing of the love lost stallion, but he had seen enough in a short time to know that the other would never side anywhere but with Cullen. He'd made that pretty clear.
Cullen spoke of there being colts here that looked up to him. What colts were those? Goose saw no wee ones that even existed in the Lagoon. Where were they hiding? Nowhere because they didn't exist. If he was talking about his lover? Well, was he really a colt? Not in Goose's eyes. A follower; a sidekick. The thought was amusing really. Corrupt. That was a pretty good word for mister smitten. Cullen draws Goose from his thoughts again and he listens. Cullen speaks of having brought him here not only for the deal but to show him why he'd been stolen in the first place. Goose didn't see it. There was no reason honestly that he could see. A mostly quiet terrain. A mostly vacant home. What did Cullen really have here? Respect? Perhaps from one. Fear? Logical thinking enough. Loyalty? Not particularly from most honestly. Goose only saw others that seemed too afraid to speak up. Too afraid to fight for the better of the Lagoon. Goose could not say he'd not been in that same boat. Neither had he chosen to go for the cause of the Lagoon. Better it? Goose wasn't sure that Cullen would ever let that happen or those that followed him still. If there were even many. Didn't seem the case.
"You speak of bringing me here and showing me why you'd taken me in the first place? Yet; I see none. Distant figures who call this home but never really make themselves known. It is quiet here Cullen can't you see that? It's like they don't even care to try. They've left all of that up to you. Can't you see that? Would those you've groomed and claimed truly be your brethren as you call them when they don't even make the effort?" It wasn't a lie. There is little here beyond the silence. Bodies? Yeah, there were those here but they were not making any effort to make themselves known. They were not talking among one another. They were not going out and making friends and getting recruits. He'd only seen Cullen doing this and his buddy. The rest? They were quiet. Practicing here and there but little else. Did Cullen seriously consider them his brothers? Goose wondered where their loyalty would lie when they saw Cullen casting them aside when the going got better. Like he'd done to his brothers before them. Did they know his past? Did he even talk with them aside from having brought them here against their will? Claims and battles. Only that one seemed smitten but the others? Where did they really lie?
Goose had in the distance seen a figure that looked a lot like the one running against Cullen's vote. He thought it odd to see the other walking away from the Lagoon with a vote so near. Did he give up? Had he changed his mind when he noticed that none had the courage to side with him? Too young? Goose had judged him of that perhaps. Goose was as guilty as any there. Goose made the wrong decision? How could he really know? Was he running on fear? Not really but the other might have seen it that way. Goose was making deals for the good of his family. Goose had no way of knowing if Cullen would honor it or not. He could only hope. A deal was made and he'd taken the bite. Now it was up to Cullen to follow through or he knew the hell that would follow. The Bay would no sooner leave him be than he them. Again and again they would come. They would fight. Didn't he realize that? Hadn't he seen this? Goose loved his family and his home. They were where his loyalties were. There was nothing for him here. He didn't believe in the cause. Goose would not judge those that chose this life but he was not for it. Goose was a family man. Goose would never subject his family to a life with Bachelors. It didn't seem fair. A herd stallion. His cause lay elsewhere. Goose loved the Bay and it was his choice. His existence. His life was there and not here.
"I told you I would see what the Lagoon was about Cullen. I would cast my stance beside you in hopes that you would honor your part of the deal." Cullen knew what would happen if he didn't, and Goose didn't need to voice that yet again. He was sure Cullen got the point loud and clear already. "Of yet; all I see is a quiet home. There are others here, but they seem lacking in the social department. Perhaps they are merely wary? I do not know, but they are not helping your cause Cullen." Goose knew that much. "It confuses me greatly that you call them family and yet; they do nothing to prove themselves to you. They stand around with nothing going on inside their heads it seems. Thoughts but never acting on it. Not that I've seen from most of them." It was sad really. Perhaps Cullen really was trying to rebuild but why hadn't he gone after his brothers from before? He claimed to care about those living here and yet; he showed none of that for them.
"Why Cullen? Why do you say you care about your brethren here and yet; you abandoned so many of them? You had a flourishing home before and then; you let it all slip away. Why did you abandon them? Gone after the new without loyalties to you. You could have shown everyone that you were more than just a face. You could have proven to them that you cared. Now though; they do not even try for their own freedoms. They were abandoned and see no reason to try. I don't understand why. Such a big number of your family are there. Well, I'm not sure they are considering you their family now. I just don't understand why you didn't try harder?"
A lot to say? Perhaps but it needed said. Goose wanted to know; to understand why Cullen had left them all to rot. Goose wonders and he cannot help it. Others wondered. Any of them probably had wondered for a time. Why their brother had left them in the Peak. They probably didn't care anymore though. They probably couldn't even cast a thought of it anymore aside from the hurt and the hate. Goose is finally quiet again and watching. He is waiting for the explanation. Would Cullen give him a worthy one? Goose doesn't know but he'll listen all the same. Replies: There have been no replies.