*While walking thru the camping grounds on his usual oversees of the drills , Lance looks towards the man who he listeded saying about that, he stops a moment and finish to hear the whole story, then calling upon the man,* - Greetings, I may indulge to hear what or where did you hear this?. * As he got the reply with the general information he nods and thanks the man, he resumes his march thru the fields *
*Once he reached to his office, he calls one of his company of the Star aides*
-Martin, there is this situation on this village near Briardusk, I would like to be revised, Please head over there , get a low profile and see what happened, Briardusk has seen too much and make sure this is not something more than what the eye mets, ... And investigate who the family was and what was with the kid, while you are there. Don't engage, just look and report back please. -
Martin tightens the saddle strap of his horse in preparation for leaving the small village of the little girl who was recently burned at the stake for witchcraft and frowns, totally perplexed. He has never encountered or heard of such a thing before. He overheard several neighbors and the village Alderman speaking… evidently a little girl named Sally Mae was found by her aunt raving like a lunatic. Both of her parents were shriveled husks, lying in their beds like desert mummies. Salley Mae was laughing madly and rambling about “how delicious her parents were.” After a short trial she was sentenced to death for murder and witchcraft. Others were overheard how strange it was that she was so unrepentant in her crimes throughout the whole ordeal, at least until she was bound to the stake… then she simply looked confused about what was going on and began crying for mercy, begging for her dead parents to save her. Without engaging in an active investigation, this is the extent of what he can uncover, and he heads out to make his report.
The village people are scared, suspicious, and there is a strong feeling of tension in the air.
Life went on as usual, and nobody ever seemed to care that he was listening to the gossip going on. While gossip was necessarily inaccurate and full of lies, half-truths and other things that did not make it a sufficiently factual foundation for decisions, it was interesting to listen to and carefully deduce information from it. And what had happened in his mind with more trivial talk happened again when he overheard two caravaneers talking.
So nobody ever seems to care about educating them about all the magical things and horrors that exists. Who values their sleep so much, honestly. Then again, if they knew ... no, let's not go there. They were afraid and wanted revenge. That's bad. Also, what makes a child do just that?
The executed girl's Aunt packs up her sister's personal property and moves it to her own home in the same village. Most of the residents and neighbors surrounding the now abandoned cottage begin whispering among themselves that the home is cursed. The building mysteriously goes up in flames in the middle of the night two days later. There is no local investigation into the crime.
How incredibly convenient. And quick.
A young man on the road, a shield on his back, leading a horse by the reigns. Dust on his sun-bleached surcoat and leather boots. Soon, he would be there, and see for himself.
Borris hears about the plight of the young girl while playing, of all games, hopscotch with the local children in Fort Vehl. Somehow he has developed a fondness for the children in Fort Vehl. It started with his silly game of pirates with a kid who refers to himself asThe Dread Pirate Breaksalot. Unexpectedly the poor kid found himself being involved with a real pirate circle and clumsily Borris managed to save him. No feat of great renown but in children circles it certainly scored a few points. Plus it certainly doesn't hurt that Borris 's mentality is hardly more advanced than a child's. For that reason he would find himself playing hopscotch on that given day. Any passerby seeing a big fat Half Orc like Borris hopping about and giggling with the children might be a bit alarmed by his behavior, but, should they happen to know Borris personally, they would likely think nothing of it.
*Upon hearing Martin's report several days later, Lance thanks his loyal Aide and send him on his way to Horn kingdom to do another diplomatic errand after a couple days, he gives instructions to him to pass before leaving towards Horn*
- Seek a wizard and a priest of the Hand of virtue, that are not otherwise engaged, deploy them to Briardusk, their official mission will be to deliver a message and do an oversee of the town and bring back the report of this month, but the events you descrive are far from natural and hence they may be needed on that small village, I've sent people to see the situation closer, and I want people versed in strange things as you mentioned near the villange in case they are needed. -
William has spent several hours in the village square, looking, listening, wondering what brought about this horrible event. He pauses for several moments near a mound of ash… it brings back terrible memories of the war. The acrid smell of charred bone and burnt wood still lingers. He can sense fear in those he meets around the village.
Martin nods, dependable as always. He smiles, “Aye, I’ll send word when I have allocated and dispatched the assets.”
After a long journey, and bouts of sea sickness that made his big belly rumble more than usual, Borris makes landfall in Nith in the Nesar Kingdom and progresses overland without incident to the Hilm Protectorate through Fort Miritix, Sundance, and then Briardusk. The people are not overly friendly to him and it is becoming very evident, even to Borris, that his kind are not regular inhabitants in the Hilm Protectorate. After a long exhausting conversation with a merchant in Briardusk he finally comprehends directions to the small village in question.
After looking for lodging, William looks around for what there is to do, living among the people and silently studying them, providing what skills he has to help their community, always on the lookout for the subtle feelings of evil. He roams the surroundings of the village and tries to learn what he can about the village's history as well as the history of the families and people that live within. What little spare time he can find is devoted to maintaining -if already existing - or building a small shrine for the Great Leader and improving the villages mental and physical defenses.
Arfur Dumas no stranger to adventure and poetry excursions in the Hilm area hears the rumours about a village near Briardusk. He wastes no time and delays his departure only to gather some important writing materials and two new tunics. He explains his position to his tailor "Look you should pack up and move there too, why you will be rich within the year. By all accounts and I know a good thing when I see it you know, this village stands like a beacon. the new Hlint, or Center. Why I have heard all manner of good to be seen near heroes are heading out there." The tailor hurries on keen to finish the work. "Of course I have no idea the trouble but I'll know what to do when I see it."He looks down at the finished tunics. "and with these garments I shall look a proper adventurer doing it too!" He sets off, returns for directions and is once again on the road, distractedly wondering how much land he could tastefully buy in the village before prices soar.
*For unknown reasons , and even more mysteriours ways, the town peace seems disrupted by the presence of a strange fellow, as if the people was not scared enough, a red haired man of meek constitution an ankward look, is around the town, the shiny metalic parts that covers his arm, ocasional smoke pouring out of the "mechanical" device. *
*He seems to be asking around for something called SSGEMP, or SGEMPE or something along the lines, causing maybe a bit more mayhem than what he intended, always with an odd smile on his face*
*Orn Stargazer staying with her grandparents in Hilm, over heard her Grandfather Lance Stargazer talking to Martin about the situation in Briardusk. It only took Orn a minute to decide that she was going to follow Martin and do some investigating of her own. Her thoughts troubled she prays for guidance to the Great Leader, she prepares herself to go.*
William’s attempts at imbedding himself into the community have had some moderate successes. Most of the villagers would rather be left in peace, but on the other hand they are scared… and the assistance of outsiders is predominantly recognized and accepted for what it is… a helping hand. He has made a few friends, particularly with the blacksmith’s family. Risteotis Ironarms is a third generation villager and owns the “Three Shoes and Nails.” He is also a devout Toranite. William and Risteotis have had some very deep and interesting philosophical and religious discussions. William was also very pleased to find a simple but well used shrine to Toran already present near the village square.
The village is called Eaornath D’lisk, which translates in the older “folk tongue” loosely as “Briardusk’s little sister.” There are about 50 families of varying races and age populating the general area. The poor farmland lends itself to meager subsistence farming, nothing on a commercial scale. Most families are homesteaders and live from the land hunting and mining. The village has been destroyed and rebuilt many times. Prior to 1415 it was ravaged by Xandrial and Bloodstone… and in more recent time’s incursions from Kuhl. They are a hardy people though… and they persevere.
In spending time and walking around the village William can sense something out of place… kind of like that itch you can’t adequately reach to scratch. He can’t quite put a finger on what is bothering him though.
The tailor slaps his sweaty forehead as Arfur leaves for the second time and quickly turns the “closed” sign over in the doorway. He was lucky that fellow didn’t talk him out of his life savings trying to sell him poems, paintings, sculptures, tapestries, and who knew what else.
“Sheesh…”
After a long journey Arfur Dumas makes his way to the small village in the Hilm Protectorate. He immediately sees that there are all sorts of other investigators poking about. He starts to ask a few questions of his own… but then he sees it. Nestled next to the small wooden Alderman’s Office is a shack with a small crudely painted sign on it that reads “Realty Office.” He cannot help himself and wanders in that direction.
The man with the “smoking arm” as he is now being called receives strange looks from passersby, and most people simply turn around and leave quickly when he approaches them. Nobody has been able to comprehend what a SSGEMP, or SGEMPE is yet, which does not seem to faze him very much as he carries on with his line of questioning.
The red haired man notices a stern looking Toranite watching him from the front of the nearby Blacksmith’s shop. (William)
Martin introduces Orn to Vesichi, a wizard of moderate skill serving Toran and to Brother Naoniasa, a Toranite priest. Both are stationed in Briardusk and have been requested for temporary reassignment by Martin.
After pleasantries are exchanged, Martin explains to Orn that William should already be in the small village where the concerns have arisen, and he asks her to deliver a message to him from Lance explaining that Vesichi and Brother Naoniasa are being made available to assist them in their investigation.
*During the small talk, Orn tells Brother Naoniasa that she to is a Priestess of Toran and it was a pleasure to her to meet brothers of the Faith. She reassures Martin that she will deliver the message to William telling him of Vesichi and Brother Naoniasa are there to assist him if needed. She asks Martin before departing if there is anything else she should know about the situation in the village, as well as well about the people who make the place home.*
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Topic: Trouble in the Hilm Protectorate? (Read 3005 times)
