Birthright: Tuornen IC

[VAN]

The Ducal Palace


Filbert sneaks into the palace through and upper window. Once inside, he noses around a bit. He finds the upper floors under heavy guard. Soldiers, and a few scribes and priests, hurry about the halls. Many of the men in this part of the palace wear sad or worried looks on their faces. Everyone speaks in whispers.
The Halfling, small and stealthy, is able to get close to the duke’s personal chambers—but there are half a dozen armed men waiting outside the door.
The fool finds a curtained hiding place close enough to eavesdrop on the men at the door. Presently, the door of the duke’s chamber open and a red-robed priest emerges. The smooth-cheeked priest informs the guards-
“His Grace wishes for the Duke’s Fool to be brought to him now. "

…

When Filbert is ‘found’ by the guards, he is escorted into the duke’s quarters, a large room now murky with but a little sunlight slipping in through the shutters. A man stands near the shuttered windows, silhouetted in the broken rectangle of light. The curtains are drawn on the great four poster bed in the back of the room, where the duke usually sleeps. The room has not been cleaned today, it would appear, for the dun carpet bears a vivid burgundy stain and some broken glass litters a corner near the toy cabinet.
The man near the window turns. Filbert recognizes Devlin Flaertes, the duke’s son and heir.

Filbert looks around really confused. The sad faces, the red-robbed priest, the unclean Duke's room, the drawn curtains, the Duke miissing, the heir. All these are signs that something serious is going on. Turning to Devlin, bows and asks:

"My lord, have you called me? How can I be of service?"

[ewancummins]

Renn folds his arms over his chest and proceeds to wait, his face a mask of patience belying his growing frustration at being shuffled off to the side, like a common peasant!

While he waits he makes use of his time. Things are actually less chaotic than he would have thought at the Ducal palace, and he watches and listens.

The sound of the woman sobbing catches his ears. Since he is still waiting, he takes a quick look around, trying to find the source of the crying.

Renn finds a middle-aged serving-woman weeping in a side room.

When questioned, she reveals that she was the one who found the old Duke dead in his private quarters.

"I went in early to clean up. He was a-lying there on the floor. I touched him, and he was cold as any stone."

The woman rubs her bleary eyes and asks, "When are they going to let me go see my husband and children? "

A guard outside the door leans in, stares silently for a moment at Renn and the woman, and then steps back into the hall.

[ewancummins]

The watchman replies-
"Man in charge? Ah, okay, let me see..."
He trots off, only to return in a short while with a pudgy officer.

The pear-shaped man sits down at the desk and scratches his unshaven face.

"Alright then, my lady. I'm in charge while our commander is busy. How can I help you?"

Dominica notices that the man's bleary eyes keep straying from her own eyes, moving down her neckline to her low cut bodice.

The red haired woman looks at the pear-shaped man with a slight smile. "Pardon me, but I would most prefer to speak with the Commander on this matter." She bends down slightly, offering the man a better view, then brushing hair out of her face, goes back straight.

"I was wondering if a man such as yourself might know where I might find him? This Commander, what is his name? I would take that as a favor on your part, sir if you would kindly tell me where he is, please."

The man tilts his head to get a better view of what Dominica is showing off.

''Uhhmmmm, yes, well, ah...Our commander is new. Comes from a good family, fine noble people. Rennalt Ghonallison is his name. He's not here, busy at the castl ..errr..just busy. But if you want a private interview with me, I'll be happy to pass on any information of question you've got for him.''

[ewancummins]

Cormac POV-

Cormac spots two archers on top of the mesa taking aim at the Hunstman, who is working his way up a shallow, dirty gully. If the men have spotted Cormac, they give no sign of it...


* * *

Hunstman POV-

The Hunstman creeps up the gully towards the cave mouth, sometimes sliding on his belly, sometimes crawling on his hands and knees.

He barely hears Cormac moving behind him.

Listening and looking for any sign he's been spotted...

[steveflam]

The man tilts his head to get a better view of what Dominica is showing off.

''Uhhmmmm, yes, well, ah...Our commander is new. Comes from a good family, fine noble people. Rennalt Ghonallison is his name. He's not here, busy at the castl ..errr..just busy. But if you want a private interview with me, I'll be happy to pass on any information of question you've got for him.''

Dominica smiles at the man, noting that the Commander is at the castle. She pats the pear shaped man's arm. "There there. I would like to aquiesce to your request but I must get going. I was really here to see Commander Ghonallison after all. Perhaps another time, good sir. I bid you a good day."

Turning, she walks out of the building, a destination in mind. But first things first. A change of clothes again, her rogue attire. Back to the Inn and a quick change, arming herself with her short sword and a dagger strapped to each appendage [arms and legs]. She exits the Inn and heads for the Castle.

[Adam]

Cormac silently draws his bow, narrowing his eyes and holding his breath just before he lets fly at one of the snipers.

[RocEter]

Sensing something isn't right, the Huntsman gets to his feet and draws his bow. Looking up he spots the two archers, seeing an arrow fly towards one of the archers the Huntsman pulls an arrow from his quiver and fires...

[ewancummins]

Cormac snaps a shot at the archer on the heights to the left. The man cries out in pain, drops his bow down the steep hilliside, and rolls back out of sight on the flattened hilltop.

The Huntsman's first shot misses the archer to the right. Just as that man steadies his aim, the Huntsman's second sheaf arrow strikes him in the breast. The unfortunate brigand tumbles off the hilltop to smash into the dirt with a heavy crunch. He does not move again.

[RocEter]

The Huntsman runs toward the mouth of the cave and waits for Cormac.

[JMaytr]

"Filbert, My father is dead. Killed last night by some assassin. I could use some cheering up. Things are about to become very strange around here. I've also called for a meal." Devlin chokes out the words.

[Adam]

Cormac shakes his head and pops to his feet, hustling towards the cave mouth. "I sure hope this Huntsman is tellin' the truth," he mutters before drawing up next to him, covering the cave mouth with his bow.

"After you," he says.

[VAN]

Filbert's jaw drops as hears the news about the Duke. He turns to see one more time the bed with the closed curtains and says a small prayer in his language for the Duke. Then turns to Davlin and says:

"I'm very sorry for your loss my lord. May his soul rest in peace. Better if you come outside and I will do my best to cheer you up, but out of respect for your father I don't want to make jokes in here. Feels very inappropriate."

[ewancummins]

Dominica, outside Caer Haes-

Thin, dirty gray snow begins to fall as Dominica arrives at a corner near the castle, where she can observe conditions before moving ahead with her plan. The cold, grimy film doesn't stick, but melts into shallow black pools on the cobbled street. *

She notices the heavy guard presence at the gate. The men stand with halberds at the ready, muffled in great cloaks of brown wool.

A fat man with a big case has just finished speaking with the sentries and now steps out into the street a short distance from the corner where Dominica watches the castle gate. He starts walking towards the outer city wall and the River Gate.





* This early in springtime, occasional drifts of thin snow are not unusual. The river is currently free of ice.

[ewancummins]

The mesa and the cave mouth, Elevesnemiere



Catching their breath after a dash to the hillside, the Huntsman and Cormac crouch outside the cave mouth. They hear confused, angry babble and girlish weeping coming from within the hollow of the hill. Peeking round the corners into the gap (big enough for two or three men to walk in side by side and just low enough to make a tall man stoop) they see flickering torches set back in a large, rough chamber that lies down a short passage. The murky shapes of at least half a dozen men move about, some holding what might be swords or cudgels.

[ewancummins]

Ducal Suite-


A servant brings Deviln food and drink. He waits for further orders-- and departs when dismissed.