Birthright Chapter Eight

[ewancummins]

TORTHUR

IN THE CELLAR


While poking about the cellar, Torthur discovers section of stonework that seems just a bit mismatched, which is covered up partly by a stack of empty crates. Moving the crates aside and tapping the stones, he hears a hollow sound, as if a further passage or chamber, maybe a crawlspace, lies beyond. He can feel a very slight draught coming through the rectangular fissure in the stone wall, as if he were feeling along a concealed door of some sort, about dwarf-height. He doesn’t see any obvious way to open it, but he might be able to shove it open.
Or perhaps there’s a hidden catch someplace?

[ewancummins]

CORMAC

"Hmm," he says, scratching his beard thoughtfully. "Well, keep an ear to the ground. If ye hear o' any o' them movin' in, let me know. They don' sound like they have the word o' Aeric in their intentions."

With that, he speaks with Dietric briefly regarding the construction projects before leaving to see to counting and stashing the money.

He counts only ten coins.

But all are platinum, worth five times as much as a gold coin each.

[JMaytr]

Devlin and Filbert, ALONE-

"That is troubling news Lord Filbert. That rumor of an Avanil alliance with Alamie is indeed worrisome. Could the Prince be Alam's secret coin purse?"

Devlin hands the halfling 10 platinum of his own personal wealth.

"Take that rumor to the pubs and taverns of Nabherine, Tuor's Hold, and Elvnesmiere. Say it to all that would listen, and buy rounds of ale to open more ears. Especially make sure that any Boeruineian troops that may be in Elvnesmiere hear this as well. If the Prince means to join this war with our enemies, I want him to know that we are aware of such an alliance. I know you have been home only a short while my friend, but until this war is through, we may expect little rest."

[ewancummins]

ROALD & RENN


A page with the stag's head of Flaertes emblazoned on his coat approaches the two men as the converse outside the watch-house.
''Lord Captain, Master Roald, His Grace requires your presence at Caer Haes.''

[steveflam]

TORTHUR IN THE CELLAR

Torthur stops and looks at the wall closely, trying to find something out of place.

He does! Finding a hidden catch, he pushes it and is rewarded by a door opening. Smiling, he walks
over to where Clyde is and scratches him in his favorite place, the ears. "I be right back, ye keep an eye on things me friend"

He walks back and looks down into the gloom. Shrugging, he begins the descent down the passage.

[VAN]

Devlin and Filbert, ALONE-

"That is troubling news Lord Filbert. That rumor of an Avanil alliance with Alamie is indeed worrisome. Could the Prince be Alam's secret coin purse?"

Devlin hands the halfling 10 platinum of his own personal wealth.

"Take that rumor to the pubs and taverns of Nabherine, Tuor's Hold, and Elvnesmiere. Say it to all that would listen, and buy rounds of ale to open more ears. Especially make sure that any Boeruineian troops that may be in Elvnesmiere hear this as well. If the Prince means to join this war with our enemies, I want him to know that we are aware of such an alliance. I know you have been home only a short while my friend, but until this war is through, we may expect little rest."

Filbert takes the coins and plays them at his hand for few seconds then says:

"It will be done Your Grace, the war goes before everything right now, I will have time to rest properly and have fun when we have finally defeat our enemies. But I'd like to have gold and silver coins instead of platinum if possible. The platinum are hard to break and at the very first moment I take one out they eyes of all the thieves of the neighborhood will be fixed on me and I don't like that. I prefer to pass unnoticed."

[JMaytr]

Devlin and filbert, ALONE

"Of course. I tend to forget the costs of the common folk."

Devlin exchanges the wealth, making equal shares silver and gold.

"The coins will be much heavier this way, but I trust you will make do."

[VAN]

"I do know that, but will be easier for me to move and much safer as well. Do you need me for anything else Your Grace or I can retire to my room? I plan to leave tomorrow at dawn, so if possible can someone have a pony ready for me?"

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

OUTSIDE WATCH HQ

"Oh I've no mind for -attacking- the temple, at least not directly. But there may be ways to lighten them of their gold without bringing too much of the attention our way. I still need to gather intelligence on the matter."

He leans back, considering Roald's suggestion. "I'd say making off with the duke's pleasure barge must have put a dent in his finances. Not a bad first step. Got any leads on who Carilon owes, besides the Jewel?"

[Varrus the Ethical]

OUTSIDE WATCH HQ

"Oh I've no mind for -attacking- the temple, at least not directly. But there may be ways to lighten them of their gold without bringing too much of the attention our way. I still need to gather intelligence on the matter."

He leans back, considering Roald's suggestion. "I'd say making off with the duke's pleasure barge must have put a dent in his finances. Not a bad first step. Got any leads on who Carilon owes, besides the Jewel?"

"I have a few contacts who will let me know." Roald glances at the page. "But it seems His Grace requires our presence."

[ewancummins]

FOERDE


Foerde's first effort at making a practice sword comes out as a flimsy, poorly balanced toy.
It won't do for what he has in mind.

He recalls that he has a good straight piece of ash wood cached in the tiny attic of the cottage, which ought to be well-seasoned by now.
Going in through the back door, Foerde stands tip-toe, slides a panel out of the way, and reaches into the storage space---

His gut tightens, his muscles twist and bind, all his senses come blazingly alive in an instant.

Something feels very wrong, but not in the storage space…

[ewancummins]

TORTHUR IN THE CELLAR

Torthur stops and looks at the wall closely, trying to find something out of place.

He does! Finding a hidden catch, he pushes it and is rewarded by a door opening. Smiling, he walks
over to where Clyde is and scratches him in his favorite place, the ears. "I be right back, ye keep an eye on things me friend"

He walks back and looks down into the gloom. Shrugging, he begins the descent down the passage.

...



At the bottom of the short staircase, Torthur finds a ten foot hall that runs from the base of the stairs to a heavy wooden door, bound with metal and sealed with a massive plate-lock, at the far end. Looking at the side-walls, he sees the outlines of two other doors, one on the left and one on the right.
Faint heat, more likely from living things than from open flames, comes from behind the righthand portal.

That's as much as he can make out by dwarf-sight. If there are any inscriptions, colored signs, or other such details, he cannot see such without light.

[ewancummins]

CORMAC

After storing his funds, Cormac has time to rest, eat a morning meal, pray, and listen to reports from his helpers.
A couple of white-faced workers stumble into the camp, shouting about a ‘horror’ they discovered in the woods!




TORTHUR


Creeping about as quietly as he may, Torthur checks each door. When he listens at the right-side door, where he sees a faint glow as of warm life, he hears soft sobbing, like a human woman might make in distress. He finds that all doors are locked or latched. He might be able to break open either or both of the two side doors with a hard shove, but the big door at the end would be much more difficult. A running slam might break it down

[Adam]

CORMAC

Cormac heads over to the workers, handing them a flask of water and urging them to sit down.

"Wha'd ye see?" he says.

[ewancummins]

TORTHUR