After a few minutes of lonely patrolling Vincent is somewhat disheartened with the realities of the job of the common soldier. He sets up outside the Inn pulls up a chair a second for his feet, orders more than the soldiers might reasonably afford and pulls out a well worn tome and starts to study some arcane work, occassionally watching the guards patrolling nearby. "Good morning Sir!" offers a passing merchant. He is served with something more dire by way of reply "Is it ?,,, is it really, there will likely be blood curdling screams and the touch of near fatal death before your good morning is turned to evening!" He returns to reading.
Sebair walks up to the lonely mage reading outside the Inn, still looking like he has just walked out of the forest after not being sure under which circumstances he actually entered said forest the day(?) before. "Hello good sir! Do you know why this lovely outpost have been overrun by those boring knights? And is there by chance a captain amoung them who seems to enjoy wine? You know this town has all the protection it needs from the most handsome hero around these parts, right!"
The passing merchant scowls at Vincent’s rudeness and without further word heads towards his originally intended destination.
A young woman of great girth… and equally great bosom sits down on a nearby bench. She is very homely, and obviously not very adept at the craft of make-up artistry. She smiles at Sebair showing some crooked teeth and says “By the Gods! A hero here to save me day?! I am free for dinner if ya are inclined…
"Sure sweety! I just need to figure out what is happening around town first, I can't let this town degenerate into a dragon stronghold on my watch! I will surely return to you as soon as I have made sure that these horrible people are leaving town!" Sebair walks over to the nearest Soldier "Dearest dragonfollower, please tell me the purpose of your invasion and how I can make you clear my town as fast as possible!"
------
Meanwhile Therhcha keeps to his rutine of stalking the city outskirts looking around for anything which might pose a threath to the city, stopping only to chek on the morale of his fellow soldiers and hear if any new orders have been passed down.
She smiles again at Sebair, obviously very pleased with her social prowess. “I’ll meet you here at sundown.” She blows a kiss, winks, and gets up to leave. As she turns away he notices a strand of a very rare plant tangled in her hair called Vetchum, or known to those more knowledgeable of such as Anthoxanthum Vetchumodoratum. It is rumored that it can be used to temper the bitterness of hops to provide a fine finish to any grain brewed beverage. Fortunately you are one of those trained in this abstract plant lore. You find it odd though because it is usually only found in the Kingdom of Co’rys in the woods around the village of Dapplegreen.
As Sebair approaches one of the Rofirein knights, the warrior glances at his whip and scowls. When Sebair opens his mouth and speaks to him several of the knight’s comrades have to intervene and pull him away before the two come to blows. There are some derogatory mutterings about “the non-existent morals of Xeenites” and “disrespect for law and order” as they head to their camp.
Therhcha continues to see nothing of relevance or danger in his patrols around Center… but that nagging feeling that he is being watched never seems to leave.
While performing one of his routine check-ins he overhears snippets of a conversation between Captain Dreardan and a recently arrived Chain of Lucinda. He can make out something about “following up on a report of a dead magic anomaly and finding it missing”, “Ogre Mages with bandits”, and Rashish the Red.” They go silent as Therhcha makes his presence known and checks in.
Sebair is clearly disappointed with the angry knights but otherwise doesn't really seem to mind their internal arguments and simply yells at them that they are free to take a drink after they are done with their work as long as they leave a donation for the Mistress! He spends the rest of the day making himself a little more pretty preparing for the date with the strange girl he met and at sundown he heads to the location he found her in.
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Therhcha carefully proceeds as he steps up to the Captain and the Chain "Hello good sir, are you by chance speaking about the sort of places like I have heard rumour of existed on Dalanthar until not very long ago? I know it is not my place to speak here, but I think my brothers would be most upset if I did not suggest that you informed my father about these events. While he might be too caught up in some xeenite lady, or too busy selling stuff for the Raven Trade, he might still have some worthwhile input on your situation"
Vincent smiles and waves as Sebair talks, and talks, mainly about himself of course but he does have some rather fine wines. He notices he has not actually said anything back when Sebair wanders off to distract the guards. Vincent considers the service he is doing as the guards start to gather in some sort of commotion Sebair has managed to achieve in near record time. This bodes well for me Vincent considers by the time Sebair has finished with them they will take me for a much more righteous individual, why I should probably raise my usual fees.
While Sebair is occupied with the Rofirein knights, Vincent notices a man outfitted like a tracker near the stock yard handing over some coin to a couple of laborers and shaking their hands. Apparently, someone has been hired to do something….
Captain Dreardan and the Chain of Lucinda look to each other for a few moments and then the Captain shakes his head in the affirmative and says, “Yes. Your father may be able to shed some light on this situation. Please send word to him at once.” The Chain of Lucinda says nothing throughout this interaction.
*The residents of Center are obviously becoming uncomfortable with a detachment of Rofirein knights in their outpost, and there has been a lot of grumbling and suspicious looks. This appears to have been exasperated by the confrontation between the Xeenite and two Rofirein knights the evening before. Captain Dreardan has taken due notice and attempts to placate the residents, transients, and others that have passed through or stopped over with little success. There seems to be an underlying fear that this "detachment" might become something more permanent. To this end he begins making preparations for a departure in the near future and orders his men to take pains to make this as visible and transparent as possible.*
*The next day Storold arives in Center via the Portal, he seeks out Therhcha and speaks quickly with him. The conversation seems to be polite but it is clear that there is cold air between the two for whatever reason. Guided by Therhcha Storold seeks out the Captain and the Chain in Center.*
"I hear that you are getting reports about a mage connected to the criminal you are seeking who might be related to the spread of no magic areas in the region. Are these rumours true and what do you have to report about them?"
Vincent's first instinct is to see what is on offer, coin is coin, but something makes him hesitate. He considers 'The world is a conspiracy is it not, my best two trues says they have not just been hired to chop firewood.' He opts for a more discreet approach. He magically conceals himself from common sight and opts to follow the labourers, the ones with the trues, the doers. He watches the tracker depart as he goes so he will know him again and to ensure he has really gone. It's what specialists do.
A quickly, yet expertly muttered incantation cloaks Vincent in magical invisibility and he begins his investigation. The tracker leads the two laborers out of town, through a shallow gully, and up a small hill into some brush. Vincent is very surprised to see why they were hired.
Laying on the ground, hogtied, and trussed to a long wooden pole is a well formed and apportioned female in green scale armor. A gag protrudes from her mouth. A long barbed tail is strapped to her body with course rope, and small bat-like wings can be seen peeking out of the burlap camouflage covering her back. Small horns protrude through her raven colored hair. Her angry and predatory eyes watch every move they make. This is a creature you have never seen before, but you have encountered similar beings in your travels… all of which ended up being entities from The Pits… realms outside of Layonara. The tracker directs the men to pick up the prisoner, warning them not to get too close to her, and they head back to Center.
When they enter the town proper there is a commotion as fearful residents and travelers see what was brought into their midst. There are angry calls to “take it away” and accusations that “doom and destruction will befall them.” The tracker heads straight away to the Rofirein contingent and presents himself and the prisoner to Captain Dreardan.
“Captain Dreardan, I am Siphoclianaus, an Agent of the Realm of Brelin dispatched out of Port Hempstead to assist in uncovering threats to the kingdom. I came across this creature spying on your encampment and the outpost. I think it might be prudent for you to relocate both this “thing” and your troops to another location.” Captain Dreardan nods, “Yes I agree. It appears we have worn out our welcome here… and a more secure location to interrogate this spy would be beneficial. Please convey to the authorities in Port Hempstead that we are thankful for their tolerance and we will be heading to the village of Dapplegreen in Co’rys if they have need of swords or assistance with any defense.” Siphoclianaus clasps the captain’s forearm in thanks and departs.
The camp becomes very active as guards are posted over the prisoner and supplies and equipment are packed in preparation for departure.
Captain Dreardan nods at Storold’s line of inquiry, noticing the underlying tension between him and his son. “It may be direr than that… we don’t know at this point. We may have more information after we interrogate the prisoner though in Dapplgreen.” The captain motions to the Chain who has been silent up to this point. The man hesitates for a second and then relates the following to Storold.
“I was following up on a report of a dead magic anomaly in the area of Dapplegreen several days ago. I had a guide with me, and when we approached the location we found to our dismay that the disturbance was no longer there. Departing the clearing where it was located was a small force of bandits with several Ogre Magi accompanying them. We saw several of the brutes carrying harnesses on their backs that held what appeared to be glass globes the size of catapult ammunition. They were glowing with a dull white light. Although the dead magic disturbance was not in the clearing, it was still present… but receding. I think they discovered some means of “harvesting” the anomalies.”
Then the Captain interjects, “My men and I also saw equipment consistent with siege engines in the possession of the bandits we fought. I fear these criminals have discovered a method of harvesting and weaponizing these disturbances in the Al’Noth.”
In-Game quest has been scheduled. CLICK HERE.
Please continue to role-play in the forum until then. Everyone is going to be heading to the village of Dapplegreen.
Will be out of town, sorry.
Captain Dreardan and his small contingent of Rofirein Knights ride into the town of Dapplegreen. A few adventurers have followed and were a welcome addition, bolstering their offensive capability if required. Fortunately the movement of the strange prisoner to the new location was without incident. The roads were very lightly travelled by others and no bandits were seen.
*Watching the movements from a hill, the knigth attaired in Vehl's guard colors observe with his falcon-like eyes to the procession, as the Knights and former fellow brothers move into the town, he presses the horse to move down the hill, and towards the town, he stands for the frist hour observing and watching the number of the Knights of Rofirein and the overall security of it, the old Aesthir instict, there is not enough times to check even if you trust that the activities will be done properly, after securing a inn to stay, he'll move to met with the captain of the Rofirenites. *
Greetings Captain !
You may not be familiar with me, the name is Aesthir Stargazer, Lieuteniant of Fort Vehl guard, I saw your *looking back to the big caravan * .. exceptional entourage that you bring to this town, Don't hessitate to let me know. I see that you have a prisioner as well.
"Yes, definitely a creature from the Pits, I've been there you know. I am not necessarily an expert there, but certainly a specialist." Vincent explained to the town crier who had not managed to move far enough away. "Well I can see you are busy fear not I'll accompany them they will doubtless need my specialist knowledge in Dapple whatisname I can only imagine the terrible carnage that might unfold if I am not present." He looked around for the town crier, shrugged and hustled after the procession. In due course he turned to magical scrying and concealment suspicious as to what things from, out there might be watching and with what magics. Nonetheless he makes his way with the others.
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Topic: Reward (Read 2144 times)
