#rivervale_lodge

Jordan eats like a horse... well, a centaur

"You enjoying the meal?" Olgar quips

Kerri very smoothly steps on Olgar's foot under the table in response to him teasing Jordan. "There's plenty, so eat up," she says to the centaur. She's enjoying her own meal.

"Okay okay" He says "You made one of my favorites" Jordan admits "You do t hat on purpose?"

An easy shrug. "Well, it's not hard to make, and I knew Olgar would be inviting you, so why not?"

"And I'm glad you like."

"I do, even if this feels like an ambush" Jordan eyes Olgar.

Amused, Kerri looks at her husband.

"Good instincts" Olgar grins "Course, I told you before if you'd stop looking on the dark side of things you might see some advantages for yourself too. "

"Yeah yeah, happy thoughts" Jordan says, but looks intrigue "What advantages?"

Olgar looks at Kerri, then says "Kerri was pointing out how often I'm in need of a bit of extra help, and so are the Rovers"

Kerri nods, adding, "The Rover patrol the trods themselves, but they could benefit from more ground support. And you came immediately to mind."

"But Centaurs aren't allowed to join the Knights of the way, only trolls. And 'ground support' makes it sound like we get to maybe shine your armor or something"

Jordan mmphs

Bemused. "Pretty sure that's not what I meant in the slightest. But there's no good reason why the Knights of the Way get to have all the fun."

"Besides, I've seen how you half ass polishing the floors around here, Jordan. you're not touching my armor" Olgar nods"There's nothing that keeps other kiths from forming their own groups and organizations... and ground support means a lot more than gopher duties. THe Rovers are few because they're scattered all over, seeking glory in shielding the helpless but they do get stretched thin. You're always griping about how you're better on the trods than some of those recruits I've got. Well? Don't you want to prove it? Think of it as a local police vs federal agents if you want, or a posse formed up when the usual sheriff is of. Sides, you've seen the horrors that can crawl out. You care about folks... even if you don't want to admit it. Layne for example, if she needed an escort ?"

Jordan makes a sour face, then looks to Kerri "is this kind of like how he proposed to win you? I mean, somehow he hit above his league and got away with it"

Olgar actually laughs at that

Kerri laughs, too. "Now that you mention it, it's not far off. He's got a particular style." She elbows her chuckling husband, then says, "And thank you," to Jordan to show she didn't miss the compliment.

"Now, nobody's trying to order you to do anything, but you know, Jordan, that you'd be recruited for the Rovers if it weren't all trolls. So instead, be the founder of a new order."

"You've got a good moral compass. I think you could pass that along to others who want to help."

"It wouldn't be bad... " Jordan admits, but then says "But there's a big problem with me even trying"

Kerri gives him a curious look.

"People can barely stand me" Jordan says "I mean, it's better, but I'm no leader. Not like Sylvi "

Olgar can't help show pride at the praise for their daughter

She tilts her head a little, considering this a moment. "How do you figure she does it?"

"Uh.." Jordan blinks not expecting the question

Kerri shrugs slightly at his expression. "You've clearly got the opinion that she's doing leadership right. So...how?"

"Well, she can be vain, and proud, but she ties a lot of her pride into the care and protection of those counting on her" Jordan considers "She looks afte them, and I don't mean doing things FOR Them all the time, though she can. I mean she knows how to support and push in ways that don't seem to offend. She... " He ponders "She makes folks think she believes in them, and they should believe in themselves too" Jordan hmms "She's kind of a cheerleader in more than one way there"

A bemused look. "Sounds like you already do a lot of those things, too. You could probably learn to express belief in others a bit more regularly. But I think you're right. People respond to that, and they'll do a lot for a person who believes in them."

"I'm a pessemist. I can't help it, it's part of..what you call it, a legacy?" Jordan says

"Doesn't mean you don't believe others can be capable."

Olgar shrugs "She's right. Make it work for you... you suspect the worst, then prepare for it. Tell me something, a sports team goes up against a traditionally better sports team. Does the sucky sports team send their second stringers against the guys who are likely to win anyway?"

"Well, no, you send your best and hope that you get lucky" Jordan sys

"Then.. if you get a group, get folks you think are the best... at this or that... and believe they have at better chance against unfair odds than jonny so so" Olgar shrugs "Sides, you already know what kind of person you need to recruit first. Someone who has social skills. Someone who likes you enough to hear you out, but then can act as an intimedary. Deeds not words will earn you more respect in the long term anyway."

"That's a good point, about recruiting the right team. You don't have to be all things. You need to choose the people whose strengths complement yours."

Then a grin. "And if you think like-ability is the only way to get somebody to follow you, you haven't heard some of the complaints travelers make about this lug." She winks at Olgar. "But they eventually figure out he knows what's what. Or they don't figure that out, and they have a very bad day."

Olgar takes the praise, then nods "It's the bad days they have that keeps me up. Look, Jordan... that's one thing I got to be honest with you about. Platoon commanders lose men sometimes. Teachers see students throw their futures away. And Rovers and the like warn folks of danger and try to protect them, only to get ignored or watch a peer get hurt because someone else didn't listen. It's going to hurt to care and try"

Jordan starts to nod to Kerri, then he blinks at Olgar "JEsus man, then why care or try at all?"

Olgar says "Because not caring and not trying when you could have just makes the bad even more likely to happen, and you'll hurt anyway." He shrugs

Jordan looks at them both then looks to Kerri "THIS is his recruitment pitch?"

Kerri nods quietly and puts a hand on Olgar's shoulder. She's seen him after he's had to deal with this. "It's a recruitment pitch because it's a hard job that needs to be done by people who can handle hard work. I don't think you're the type to look for a cushy gig. Not for long, anyway."

Olgar looks over at Kerri. She's known him both ways, when he tried not to care too as well as when he cared too much. He's learned he's happier erring towards the latter even if he hides it

She returns the look and squeezes his shoulder briefly. She knows.

Then she looks at Jordan again. "It's something to consider, that's all."

Jordan throws his hands up "See, see, I KNEW if I developed a work ethic it would get me in trouble."

Then the centaur says "Fine, I'll consider it.. maybe look around see if others fit the bill. No promises" He eats another bite of food "Stupid easily seduced tastebuds"

Olgar actually smiles at that.

Kerri grins at him. "I really didn't mean to make a mind-controlling main course. Not today, anyway."

"See, if you did it on purpose I could resist it better" Jordan nods